You don’t have to be on a cruise to get the deadly norovirus, with a public health agency warning you can easily get the stomach bug from a swim at your local pool.
A new report linked a 2014 outbreak of the norovirus to a contaminated lake in Oregon, and public health agencies are on full alert with summer unofficially starting next weekend.
The norovirus causes your stomach and intestines to become inflamed and can lead to nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The virus sickens up to 21 million people in the U.S. and kills up to 800 a year, the agency said.
While you can get norovirus from contaminated food or water or touching contaminated surfaces, most highly publicized cases are of people on cruise ships. Part of the reason is close quarters can help the virus spread much faster.
However, the CDC warned norovirus germs can be found in swimming pools and lakes.
“Children are prime targets because they’re so much more likely to get the water in their mouths,” said Michael Beach, CDC’s associate director for health water.
The 2014 outbreak sickened 70 people and was linked to a lake near Portland, CDC said. Those who swam in the lake were 2.3 times more likely to develop vomiting or diarrhea than those who didn’t go in the water, the agency found.
The agency offered key tips to help swimmers protect themselves and their families. For instance, make sure to shower before you get in the water, don’t swallow lake or pool water and don’t swim if you have had diarrhea or vomiting.
