The Daily Inter Lake

It's been called viral gastroenteritis or stomach flu and mistaken for food poisoning.

But no matter the name, norovirus provides a nasty experience for its victims.

According to the Flathead City-County Health Department, six people in Flathead County have tested positive for the notoriously contagious virus. Formerly called Norwalk-like viruses, norovirus refers to a group of illnesses which made national news recently for sickening hundreds on cruise ships.

Flathead County joins 19 others in Montana with norovirus confirmed since December by the Montana Public Health Laboratory.

Health officials say the symptoms vary from person to person. But common effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramping. Some victims also experience low-grade fever, chills, headache, muscle aches and tiredness.

Children may have more vomiting than adults. Generally, the illness starts suddenly but relents within one or two days.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people become infected by:

. Eating food or drinking liquids contaminated with norovirus.

. Touching contaminated surfaces or objects, then placing their hand in their mouths.

. Having direct contact with an infected person.

Because the virus spreads rapidly, Montana Department of Health and Human Services officials recommend that food handlers and people providing direct care to others not return to work until 48 to 72 hours after symptoms stop.

In recent years, some local nursing homes have had many residents and staff sickened with norovirus, so ill people should avoid visiting.

Local health officials say the best ways to limit the spread of norovirus include good hand washing, disinfecting with a bleach-based cleaner (one part bleach to 10 parts water) and staying home when sick.

As in preventing the spread of the flu, covering coughs also helps contain the illness.

If prevention fails, patients with norovirus need to drink fluids and rest to recover. Dehydration poses the most serious side effect, particularly to the elderly, young and those with weak immune systems.

Antibiotics have no impact on virus-caused illnesses.

Reporter Candace Chase may be reached at 758-4436 or by e-mail at cchase@dailyinterlake.com