Q: [Whole Family] It seems like every other newstory these days is about norovirus, from cruise ships to burrito chain joints. How do I keep my kids safe? They aren’t even in school yet and there are germs everywhere!
A: Bacteria and germs are unavoidable, and you shouldn’t have an unreasonable fear of them. Our bodies have natural protections against infections, like our skin and our immune systems. Many microbes in the environment and in our bodies are beneficial, or even crucial, to our health.
Nonetheless, your family can become ill from food contaminated with harmful microorganisms like norovirus, which causes stomach flu. Norovirus is contagious, so it can be spread both through contaminated food and through contact with an infected person.
The symptoms of norovirus are unmistakable: diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and stomach ache; other symptoms include fever, head and body aches. Once a person has a norovirus infection, the only treatment is supportive care while the infection runs its course.
Norovirus, while miserable, is not fatal. Still, several household habits you can develop will keep your family’s food clean, reduce their risk of foodborne illness, and keep their tummies happy.
- Wash those hands thoroughly. Kids are famous for touching unclean surfaces, and if they don’t wash before eating, they can quickly transfer microbes they pick up from the environment directly onto their food and into their systems. Wash hands for at least twenty seconds after playing outside or going to the bathroom, the amount of germs they ingest or pass on can be reduced.
- Clean your kitchen and food preparation surfaces regularly. This simple habit can further reduce the risk of consuming harmful germs brought into the home by dirty hands, or other objects such as groceries or outdoor toys. For countertops and sinks, use a bleach-based cleaner as directed on the label.
- Scrub those fruits and veggies before eating. Eating unwashed raw fruits and veggies can spread the germs that cause stomach flu, so washing them first is a good habit to get into.
- When it comes to meat, go “well done.” You can’t tell whether it has been safely cooked just by looking at it. Underdone or uncooked meats can breed harmful E. coli and salmonella. eliminate them, cook all meat through to at least the minimum safe internal temperature recommended by the federal government.
Lauren Dwinell, M.D., is a board-certified pediatrician at Mission Hospital. The hospital is part of the St. Joseph Hoag Health network of care. www.providence.org Visit foodsafety.gov for a chart of safe cooking temperatures for food products.
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