Norovirus cases on the rise in California households - a laundry surprise.
The highly contagious norovirus is causing concern among health officials in California, particularly Los Angeles, as stomach bug cases surge during the warmer months. While tainted food is often blamed for spreading the virus, doctors are now pointing to an unexpected source of transmission: your laundry.
According to wastewater analysis, a new subvariant called GII.17 could be driving this trend. The virus is spread through the fecal-oral route, and contaminated clothes can become a breeding ground for germs. Experts warn that separating sick clothing from healthy household members is crucial to preventing the spread of infection.
Dirty laundry can harbor diarrhea-causing bacteria like E. coli and salmonella, which can survive weeks in a damp hamper. "Things are happening in the hamper," says Dr. Ali Jamehdor with Dignity Health St. Mary's Hospital. "Bacteria and viruses love growing and multiplying."
The bacteria staphylococcus aureus, which causes skin infections, can even survive for a month in a moist hamper. To minimize transmission, experts recommend washing clothes separately from others, using bleach after an especially germy load, and drying clothes on the highest heat cycle for at least 40 minutes.
However, experts caution that dryers may not reach hot enough temperatures to kill germs entirely. The most effective way to prevent norovirus spread is to ensure clothes are completely dried, as damp or mildewy-smelling clothes can be a sign of inadequate drying.
In addition to washing and drying habits, hand hygiene is also crucial in preventing the transmission of norovirus. Dr. Jamehdor emphasizes the importance of washing hands after handling laundry, particularly when dealing with sick household members.
By taking these simple precautions, Californians can help reduce the spread of norovirus and keep their households safe from this highly contagious illness.
The highly contagious norovirus is causing concern among health officials in California, particularly Los Angeles, as stomach bug cases surge during the warmer months. While tainted food is often blamed for spreading the virus, doctors are now pointing to an unexpected source of transmission: your laundry.
According to wastewater analysis, a new subvariant called GII.17 could be driving this trend. The virus is spread through the fecal-oral route, and contaminated clothes can become a breeding ground for germs. Experts warn that separating sick clothing from healthy household members is crucial to preventing the spread of infection.
Dirty laundry can harbor diarrhea-causing bacteria like E. coli and salmonella, which can survive weeks in a damp hamper. "Things are happening in the hamper," says Dr. Ali Jamehdor with Dignity Health St. Mary's Hospital. "Bacteria and viruses love growing and multiplying."
The bacteria staphylococcus aureus, which causes skin infections, can even survive for a month in a moist hamper. To minimize transmission, experts recommend washing clothes separately from others, using bleach after an especially germy load, and drying clothes on the highest heat cycle for at least 40 minutes.
However, experts caution that dryers may not reach hot enough temperatures to kill germs entirely. The most effective way to prevent norovirus spread is to ensure clothes are completely dried, as damp or mildewy-smelling clothes can be a sign of inadequate drying.
In addition to washing and drying habits, hand hygiene is also crucial in preventing the transmission of norovirus. Dr. Jamehdor emphasizes the importance of washing hands after handling laundry, particularly when dealing with sick household members.
By taking these simple precautions, Californians can help reduce the spread of norovirus and keep their households safe from this highly contagious illness.
but it makes total sense! I mean who knew laundry could be a breeding ground for germs? It's like, when we're sick, our clothes can just become a petri dish for bacteria and viruses. And the thing is, even if we wash them, if they're not completely dry, those bad guys can still survive. So yeah, washing clothes separately and using bleach is a must. And don't even get me started on how important hand hygiene is 
!
I'm not surprised to hear that dirty laundry is becoming a breeding ground for germs. I mean, think about it - we spend hours lounging around in our PJs, making ourselves comfy, but forgetting to take care of the stuff that's literally keeping us clean. It's like, hello, wash those clothes ASAP! 
The thought of norovirus spreading through dirty laundry is pretty terrifying, especially with all the germy bacteria and viruses just chillin' in our hampers. Separate the sick clothes from healthy ones, use bleach, dry on high heat... it's not rocket science! 
Just a heads up for all my Cali friends out there: let's get our laundry game on point to avoid getting sick 
I'm not surprised at all that dirty laundry is a major contributor to norovirus cases in Cali households! Like, think about it, when you're feeling sick, your whole routine changes, you get more sloppy with your cleaning and laundry habits... meanwhile, bacteria are just chillin' in the hamper, waiting for an unsuspecting household member to bring them home 
I'm not surprised to hear that norovirus cases are on the rise in Cali households. Like, who doesn't know that dirty laundry is a breeding ground for germs? 
Drying clothes on high heat for 40 minutes sounds like a no-brainer to me, but I guess it's one of those things where you don't know until you try. 