QUICK ANSWERS PLEASE! norovirus transmission - AIBU?

[KnitFastDieWarm]

A group of us are meant to be going on a trip to a cottage today, for the weekend. Friend A, who was supposed to come, came down with norovirus at 3am last night, so obviously not isn't coming! Friend B spent 11.30am to 5pm yesterday at a spa with friend A, sitting in steam room and hot tub...

She MUST have caught it surely, even if she's not showing symptoms? Hot tubs are hardly the most hygienic of places to start with. AIBU not to want her to come? I wouldn't if it was me!

yes YABU...

I wouldn't miss out on a break on the possibility I might be ill.

She's not necessarily got it. I am a doctor and have treated LOADS of patients with norovirus. The only winter I got it, I was on maternity leave!

It is transmitted via faecal and vomit particles in the air, so asymptomatic people are not infectious anyway.

Oh that is good news! I am very glad to be found unreasonable in this case :)

Dinosnores, apologies if this is a stupid question but if people with no symptoms aren't actually contagious then what's the thinking behind the 48 hour rule?

Sorry, I realise I could have made that a bit clearer. Asymptomatic people with good hand hygiene (soap and water, not alcohol gel, is what you need here) can't transmit it.

The virus is transmitted by vomit or faeces so if you vomit again or don't wash your hands properly after the toilet, you can still leave the virus on surfaces/people. The virus potentially in still in faeces for a few weeks afterwards so the 48 hour rule is more a best guess of 'let's check it really has settled and you're not about to chuck up over everyone'.

Actually, people can be infectious prior to becoming symptomatic, and the Infectious dose is as little as 18 virus particles.

However, I'd agree that she probably isn't infected, and shouldn't stay at home. As dinosnores says, make sure there is good hand hygiene!

I closed a ward due to norovirus this week, because of visitors visiting patients despite having d&v.

Not everyone necessarily will get it. Some people are infected but asymptomatic, and some are less susceptible to it - there's some evidence that this may be related to blood type. So no guarantees either way!