Researchers have proven that vomit can spread norovirus which is usually the cause of viral gastroenteritis that can affect humans regardless of their age. The contagious stomach ailment can cause diarrhea and stomach cramps.
Researchers from the North Carolina State University in Raleigh created a device that will help them prove their theory. They made a vomiting device that can puke on command in their lab. The device is intended to show that stomach bugs can spread and can infect others after someone throws up.
The aforementioned device can perform the exact action that humans do but the team can regulate the amount, pressure and thickness of fluid that it ejects. Instead of putting norovirus on the fluid, they used a harmless virus called MS2 bacteriophage as a substitute to provide a clear demonstration.
The team targets to determine the amount of virus that can spread in the air including those that are suspended in the fluid after spraying. The researchers led by Lee-Ann Jaykus also want to investigate the time frame that the norovirus particles travel in the air and how long they survive in the atmosphere.
The researchers found out that in just one forceful faux-vomiting, about one in 5000 virus particles are converted into a fine spray. In real scenarios, the said amount is equivalent to thousands of virus particles which are more than enough to infect other individuals. In addition, the notorious norovirus can also remain infectious and contagious for weeks. People who touch areas that are contaminated by the virus can be at risk.
"When one person vomits, the aerosolized virus particles can get into another person's mouth and, if swallowed, can lead to infection," said Jaykus.
Jaykus also added that environmental contamination can contribute to infection risk. The contagious virus infects 21 millions of individuals in the US each year.
