I hope that everyone had a wonderful
Thanksgiving, and that everyone who went to a big gathering where food was
shared by many splendid folk enjoyed and stuffed themselves adequately, I know
I did. I just want to let you know, in case anyone was feeling a little stomachache,
that you probably got food poisoning caused by bacteria, or that you may have
contracted a norovirus capable of causing swelling of your intestines and stomach,
or a condition called gastroenteritis.
According to the CDC, Thanksgiving is
the wonderful time of the year where noroviruses feast on humans by spreading
quickly in environments where many individuals touch and eat the same food
items. So if you have diarrhea, or if you are wondering why you are vomiting or
nauseous as of late, remember that it is probably food poisoning caused by
bacteria, but that you also probably contracted a norovirus capable of causing
gastroenteritis from your adorable little cousin. Who knows, you may even get
lucky enough to visit the ER! The CDC states that norovirus infection leads to around 56,000 to 72,000 cases of hospitalizations annually in the US, with the
total cases of infection being around 19 to 21 million.
To prevent the spread
of noroviruses during this holiday season and in the future, the CDC instructs
us to wash our hands, to handle food properly, and to disinfect surfaces. I
know this news is a tad too late as Thanksgiving feasts have probably occurred by
this point, but this preventative information for norovirus infections and more
importantly viruses in general are crucial and relevant for all holiday seasons
or social gatherings that may or may not occur in the future.
So I hope that
you all enjoy your Thanksgiving leftovers, and if you so happen to develop a
stomachache, remember that it is probably food poisoning caused by a bacterial
infection, or that it could be a norovirus infection that could give you gastroenteritis.
Cheers!
-Daniel Gutierrez
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