By NewsDesk  @infectiousdiseasenews

Health officials in Iceland are reporting an increase in norovirus infections in recent weeks. Local media report (computer translated) a large number of residents at the retirement home Hrafnista in Hafnarfjörður have been diagnosed with the virus and last week the infant play school Ársól in Grafarvogur was closed due to infection.

Image/CDC

In addition, dozens of employees at the accounting firm, KPMG were stricken with the virus and everyone recovered.

Norovirus is a highly contagious viral illness that often goes by other names, such as viral gastroenteritis, stomach flu, and food poisoning.

The symptoms include nauseavomitingdiarrhea, and some stomach cramping. Sometimes people additionally have a low-grade fever, chills,headache, muscle aches, and a general sense of tiredness. The illness often begins suddenly, and the infected person may feel very sick. In most people, the illness is self-limiting with symptoms lasting for about 1 or 2 days. In general, children experience more vomiting than adults do.

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