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Europe-wide increase in norovirus infections

According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) the number of norovirus outbreaks rises greatly in Europe. National health authorities of 9 European countries, including Hungary, UK, the Netherlands, and the Scandinavian countries, reported on a significant increase in norovirus infections over the past two months.

Also in Germany, the Robert Koch-Institute (RKI) expects up to one million infections with the highly infectious noroviruses this winter. In January alone, the RKI registered 16,800 new infections in Germany; 3 people died from the gastrointestinal virus.

An infection with noroviruses is characterized by vomiting and diarrhea. Usually, the symptoms ease within 72 hours. However, children and elderly people can be seriously endangered by a norovirus infection. As these resistant pathogens are mainly transmitted via personal contact and surfaces, they have ideal circulation possibilities in facilities such as kindergartens, clinics, or residential and nursing homes.

For infection control, the Robert Koch-Institute advises to isolate patients and treat contaminated surfaces with a virucidal disinfectant. According to the RKI, additional thorough hand disinfection is a decisive factor in order to break the infection chain. Sterillium® Virugard is the only alcohol-based disinfectant for the efficacy spectrum B (viruses), which is listed in the RKI list for epidemics. BODE’s preparation is also named in several Epidemiological Bulletins of the RKI in conjunction with the successful termination of norovirus outbreaks.

Further information: RKI list and Sterillium® Virugard

(Last update: February 2007)