Vomiting, violent diarrhea and stomach ache are all symptoms of winter sickness. It is a gastrointestinal disease caused by a virus that is very contagious.
– There can be ten million winter vomiting bacteria in one vomit, says Marie-Louise Danielsson-Tham, professor of food hygiene.
Winter sickness is the terror of many and can sweep through the whole family. During the winter season, many infectious diseases abound, when both adults and children spend more time indoors and on a smaller surface near others.
– It is very contagious. It is transmitted partly through the faeces but also via the vomit. In a single vomit, there can be ten million winter vomiting viruses. And in one gram of diarrhea there can be over a hundred million viruses and it only takes ten to make you sick, says Danielsson-Tham.
The virus can live up to a week
Winter sickness causes recurrent annual outbreaks in society, especially in the winter months. The symptoms can come on quickly and become severe, while the disease is highly contagious.
– If you are going to wipe up vomit or diarrhea, remember that a virus can live anywhere between eight hours and seven days, so they have an enormous survival capacity.
This is how you clean the right way
Marie-Louise brings a cleaning kit to Nyhetsmorgon’s studio and initially says not to spray any cleaning agent on the stains.
– Wet wet strong kitchen paper in masses and cover. Do not start rooting in the spot, without it being covered with something, because then there is a risk that you will also spread it as airborne particles. Then you put on rubber gloves and dry up. It is good if you have prepared beforehand with warm water and detergent. So when you have removed everything visible, you scrub. But that is not enough because then you have to kill the virus particles.
The popular remedy does not protect
When the pandemic hit, many people started using hand sanitizer and alcogel to avoid infection. But Danielsson-Tham believes that does not help against the winter sickness bacteria.
– It does not help against the virus, but you have to use another disinfectant. Try a chlorine-based disinfectant in toilets and any area where an infected person has been.
When should I seek care?
You feel very tired and weak.
You have had diarrhea for more than a week.
You vomit for more than a day without it abating.
You have an upset stomach and are taking medication for heart failure, diabetes, high blood pressure or another serious illness.
You have dry mouth, thirst, urinate little and have dark urine. It could be a sign that you are dehydrated.
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