It’s an unwelcome winter bug. Public Health Madison and Dane County has been receiving reports of what is likely norovirus, sometimes called the winter vomiting bug, an illness that comes on quickly and produces vomiting and/or, diarrhea.
“It’s really important to stay home not make food for other people when you’re sick, and for a couple of days after, especially at this holiday time. It’s a great time to spread it,” said Amanda Kita-Yarbo, communicable disease epidemiologist with the public health agency.
Kita-Yarbo said it’s also important to wash your hands properly with soap and water – a quick pass under the faucet is not going to protect you or others, especially when handling food.
Alcohol hand sanitzer will also do the job. Norovirus is capable of spreading very quickly from person to person. The most common forms of transmission are either by touching a surface contaminated with the virus, or by eating food that has been contaminated by an infected person who prepares or serves it.