are people really buying into this novovirus panic?

[Twiglett]

ok I can understand emetaphobes being concerned at it hitting the news

but I can't help looking at the news and thinkging 'slow news day is it?'

bugs always go round, isn't novovirus just a catch-all for these types of gastric bugs (much as rhinovirus is for colds)

mild winter means more bugs go round

it's a mild D&V bug normally (any illness can be dangerous for the very young, very old and imuno-impaired)

what am I missing?

I think it's just that there are a lot of old biddies in doctors surgery who have caught it and got ill that's all. I've had it (twice now) in the last year. It is horrid and nasty, DD had it too (at 12 months) and she was actually not as bad as me, but then I gave it to my 81 year old MiL and she was bad. Hospitalised bad, but because I felt better I assumed I was fine to visit for half an hour!

Also I think it's got more virulent, hence people getting reinfected and it spreading more quickly.

But yes people are being a bit jumpy.

isnt it because lots of hospital wrds have had to clos?

Oh dear KerryMum, I'm trying not to laugh at the thought of you trying to kill yourself and falling over and breaking the other foot in the attempt

Hospitals and doctors surgeries are generally not good places disease wise, few people turn up to say 'I've lost three stone, am hearty and hale and haven't had a cold in a year' do they?

slow-news day

70 hospital wards are closed - so big issues for the NHS. And part of it is a public health information issue - ie you need to take more seriously than a normal d and v bug as it is so contagious.

Not exactly a slow news week with the Marsden, Pakistan, Kanya and the US caucuses (not to mention Britters).

I sniggered at that Kerry .. sorry

I think DH has it, although he has not started chundering yet.
He is at work and is popping the Immodium but they are having no effect.

Problem is, he is diabetic so if he starts puking he will be having hypos and seizures left right and centre and I am so bloody knackered lately with DS1s night terrors, if they catch it too, I will be suicidal.

2 small and 1 big baby with the trots blowing chunks everywhere? God help me.....

Well I have to confess I am rather concerned by it - I'm still suffering from the effects of the flu (been to the Dr.s this morning and was told expect to feel like I do for another 7-10days......urghh). I have no desire to get a D&V bug on top of this - especially as (don't laugh please) I've actually strained the muscles on my right lower back from coughing so much....and I imagine throwing up would only make it worse.

I'm worried that with DH's job he's going to pick it up and bring it home if it's as contagious as they say.....he's in and out of other people's houses all day - and how on earth is he going to know whether the person whose house he has just visited was at home because they're usually at home at the time, or at home because they've being throwing their guts up all day.....

Sympathies lady - my dp has diabetes too and its always extremely stressful when he has a sickness bug. We quite often end up getting the emergency gp out at some point.

If I caught this I would be banned from working for at least 48 hours after my last chunder or loose bowel movement - but then I do work in a hospital, albeit in an administrative capacity in the back offices so it would be very undesirable for me to continue to work (same for any of my colleagues). The problem is that some people who get this don't realise how ill they are until they've passed on the bugs iyswim.

It's probably on a par with flu pandemics - we keep being promised one of those to wipe out 80% of the population but so far we've not had one. Fingers crossed.

See LadyoftheFlowers, and THAT is how it spreads!!
WTF is your dh doing at work, spreading this thing round?

If people used once tiny ounce of common sense than this virus would not have shut down 70 hospital wards.

But no, let's all play 'how many people can I infect' because after all everyone loves a D&V bug!!

I have had it and never felt so ill in my whole life, so the thought of the kids getting it or me getting it again, terrifies me tbh. I felt totally helpless and had to get my mum to come and stay over.

Some of us had it last year - it is an absolute bastard, one of us (not me but won't idenitfy victim to spare blushes!) had it the worst and was occasionally (TMI alert) on the loo with diarrhoea and puking into a bucket at the same time.

And it's absolutely volcanic when you do puke - not your ordinary hughie at all.

So worth avoiding if you don't have it, and keeping it to yourself if you have. And wipe everything with disinfectant - doorknobs, loo seat, bucket, loo handle etc every time they are touched.

wendy, i am at home with what i think is food poisoning or mild D and V. not sure which. have isolated one loo at home for my use only, and am using anti bac hand gel. will anti bac all surfaces before dh and dds get home. am worried they'll inevitably catch it.

i noticed a lot of people on mn complaining of being sick is that what u mean?

i think i am immune to these things i have on ly been sick once in the last 24 years aaaaaand that was food poisoning

but i know if my mumwho was diabetic got these things she would end up in hospital for weeks

I had something like this years ago after a very x bf came back from Australia. He gave it to his Mum and me. It is pretty humiliating when it is both ends at once. I stayed in the house, kept the 1/2 bathroom downstairs for my use (we had 2 bathrooms) and sent my Dad out for medicines to dry it out.

It was pretty draining though - no one could or would want to work like it.

Wendy - that sounds awful.............

Piss off Hippopotami!
You know nothing about our bloody life, our financial situation, what DHs employers are like etc so wind your bloody neck in!

Almost 50% of dd's classmates are off ill atm.

The school as a whole is about one third down on attendance this week.

I am terrified about this one. I had it bad two years ago. I remember not making it to the loo on time in the middle of the night and feeling so ill I lay down on the landing floor and vomited and diaorreah'd right there on the floor. I felt soooo ill I really did not care. I then spent the rest of the night in the bath, only to sit up to shower after each bout of D and V. I was too weak to even stand up.

So this time round I am terrified, I really really do not want to get that ill again!!

I got a bit stroppy at a birthday party recently when someone arrived (DH's best friend) and happily announced, "Sorry we were late, DS was sick again so we had to change him before we could leave. Oh and DD and DW were ill in the night but it was okay we just took a sick bowl to the CBeebies show this morning".

I kid you not. Me, being me, waved at them, made the sign of the cross and told them to stay away from DD and me. I'm such a charmer to know.