How To Avoid The Whole Family Getting The Norovirus This Season

Moms.com

By Joanna Mazewski

Published Dec 10, 2018

Luckily, there are a few ways that you can help protect your family from this unwanted but very common virus.

Credit: iStock / Zinkevych

It appears every holiday season, it makes its way to almost every household, and yes, everyone can’t stop talking about it. And no, we are not talking about Santa Claus and his sleigh of reindeers on Christmas Eve. Instead, it’s the one magical holiday experience that no one wants to have, and that’s the norovirus. Luckily, there are a few ways that you can help protect your family from this unwanted but very common virus.

The norovirus is a type of virus that causes gastroenteritis, with plenty of vomiting and diarrhea (much to the horror of parents everywhere). When people are infected with norovirus, it's spread quickly and easily because it lives in the vomit and diarrhea.

Unfortunately, the norovirus is a gift that likes to keep on giving, especially during the holiday season. There are several different ways you or your family might get infected. You can easily get sick by touching objects or surfaces that are contaminated with the virus, and then touching one's mouth. That, or you can get sick consuming food or drink that is contaminated with the virus or swallowing aerosolized particles that are dispersed in the air after an infected person has vomited. In other words, it’s pretty easy to get sick.

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But here’s the good news: there are several different ways you can avoid catching the norovirus this year. Here are a few things that you and your family can do.

Eat for this time of the year.

In other words, you can fight the norovirus by eating a diet that is full of immune supportive nutrients and herbs. Fill up on anti-viral properties such as elderberry, sage, beta glucans, zinc, and vitamins A, C, and D.

Wash your hands and then wash your hands some more.

Alcohol-based hand sanitizer is a great alternative to washing your hands if you have no access to soap and water. Because yes, your hands are not always visibly soiled. A handy sanitizer helps to kill germs such as MRSA, salmonella, e. Coli, and - you guessed it - the norovirus.

Make sure that you prioritize good sleep quality and relaxation.

That’s because sleep is our body’s way of resting and repairing itself. If you are feeling tired and stressed all the time, there’s a good chance that it will drain your immune system. Adults should get about seven to eight hours of uninterrupted sleep per night while children should get a minimum of ten hours of shut-eye.