Vaccine Test for Norovirus Beginning

[jjb415]

Geocruiser posted this link over on the Holland America boards:

 

http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/news/story/index.cfm?id=2973

 

From the University of Rochester Medical Center website:

 

URMC to Test Stomach Bug Vaccine

 

If Licensed, Vaccine Would be the World’s First against Norovirus

 

September 29, 2010

 

On cruise ships, tight quarters help norovirus spread quickly.

 

Starting this fall, University of Rochester researchers will recruit up to 90 local residents to help test a vaccine against norovirus, a common stomach bug long considered the bane of cruise ships, schools and daycare centers.

 

The virus – one of the main causes of gastrointestinal illness – leads to painful bouts of abdominal cramping, diarrhea and vomiting. Since the viruses can be transmitted by contaminated food, water, or simply by touching your hand to your mouth after contact with a virus-bearing surface, illness can spread like wildfire, especially when people live, work or learn in close quarters. Worst of all, these hardy viruses are tough to eradicate: they can withstand extreme hot and cold temperatures, as well as most disinfectants.

 

At present, no licensed vaccine exists against norovirus, but the company developing the trial vaccine – LigoCyte Pharmaceuticals of Bozeman, Mont. – has tasked URMC’s Chief of Infectious Disease John Treanor, M.D., with vaccinating dozens of adults to see if the shots produce a safe and effective immune response. (LigoCyte has also tapped researchers at Saint Louis University to participate in the study.)

 

Noroviruses afflict nearly 23 million Americans annually, and pose special burden to health care systems, businesses (in terms of employee sick days and missed work), and even military units (outbreaks can pose “readiness” issues for troops posted both on land and at sea). While the infection is usually short-lived in otherwise healthy people, select populations – including the young, the elderly, or people with other illnesses – can suffer from more severe complications, including dehydration and even death.

 

Article continues...............

[CdnMessKit]

Even so... Hand washing is the best way to stay healthy during a cruise.

[Merion_Mom]

Health note:

Hand sanitizer only last for two minutes, not effective at killing germs long-term: research

 

BY Rosemary Black

DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Thursday, October 21st 2010, 6:22 PM

 

Hands-down loser? Turns out sanitizers aren't as good at keeping creepy germs at bay as the majority of Americans think they are.

 

Flu season alert: Hand sanitizers stop working after just two minutes.

Surprised? You're not alone. More than half of all Americans think the antibacterial gel last a lot longer than it really does, according to a new national survey.

 

The fact that hand sanitizers don't offer long-term protection may come as a shock to germiphobes, but it's a reality.

 

"Alcohol sanitizers last only a minute or two and must be reapplied when recontamination occurs," says Dr. Philip Tierno Jr., PhD, director of clinical microbiology and immunology at NYU Langone Medical Center.

 

Adds Dr. Len Horovitz, attending physician and internist at Lenox Hill Hospital: "Hand sanitizer is better than nothing if you are going to shake someone’s hand or if you are out on the street with no sink or paper towels, but the best germicidal thing you can do is wash with soap and water."

 

More than half of Americans think sanitizers last 30 times longer than they do, according to the survey from Healthpoint, which sells a sanitizer that the company says works for up to six hours.

 

Other than soap and water, the best way to keep harmful germs at bay is "never to touch your face unless you have just washed your hands," Horovitz says.

 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends using a hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol when soap and running water aren't available.

 

"Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are fast acting and significantly reduce the number of many types of germs on the skin," notes the CDC. "However, they will not kill all germs."

Tell that to the 68% of the more than 1,000 respondents said they use hand sanitizer, and 52% said they keep it in their purse or briefcase, according to data funded by Healthpoint, Ltd.

[cctimmom]

I washed my hands incessantly (both with soap and water and the hand sanitizer stations that were all over the ship) on my Disney cruise last year and still managed to get it within 24 hours after setting sail. I would love a vaccine!

[tnt10]

"Alcohol sanitizers last only a minute or two and must be reapplied when recontamination occurs," says Dr. Philip Tierno Jr., PhD, director of clinical microbiology and immunology at NYU Langone Medical Center.

 

Did people really think they were not able to get recontaminated after using these products?

This would be like washing your hands before using the bathroom.........

Wash hands immediately before touching face, eyes, nose, mouth or eating food. This includes after using utensils in the buffet line, or moving your chair.

TnT