2021 was enough to have anyone feeling a bit Grinch-like over the festive period, but that didn't stop TravelManagers' from ending the year on a high note.
Increased hand sanitizer use blamed for rise in gastro outbreaks
Increased hand sanitizer use b.
Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are thought to be less effective in removing norovirus than handwashing with soap and water 1/1
Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are thought to be less effective in removing norovirus than handwashing with soap and water
A number of countries are reporting increasing rates of viral gastroenteritis over recent months, and experts suggest greater use of hand sanitizers, known to have little effect on pathogens such as norovirus, may be partly responsible.
New data released by health authorities in the Australian state of Victoria is reporting a four-fold increase in gastroenteritis outbreaks across childcare facilities over the first few months of 2021, compared to the five-year average. Other countries such as New Zealand and Taiwan have also reported spikes in norovirus outbreaks over recent months.
2021-04-28 06:35:52 GMT2021-04-28 14:35:52(Beijing Time) Xinhua English
SYDNEY, April 28 (Xinhua) Health authorities in Australia urged people to use soap and water rather than relying solely on hand sanitizers to ward off the norovirus.
The Food Safety Information Council (FSIC) made the suggestion on Wednesday following hundreds of outbreaks of the gastro virus around the nation in the past five months. Nearly 390 cases have been recorded this year in the state of Victoria, four times higher than average. Norovirus is highly contagious. A single infected person can easily spread it to many others, especially if they don t wash their hands properly or prepare food or drink for others while they re sick, said FSIC chairwoman Cathy Moir.