08 Aug 2017

Botswana 400 metres medal favourite, Isaac Makwala might miss the IAAF World Championships this evening.

His coach, Justice Dipeba said in an interview that Makwala was advised to pull out of the 200m heats yesterday by IAAF medical team after showing some signs of Norovirus infection.

"He is still under observation. We are also awaiting a full written report from IAAF medical team on the way forward,” Dipeba said.

He said according to the England Public Health laws, those affected by the virus are to be isolated for 48 hours and Makwala was among those isolated.

Meanwhile, according to research, Norovirus, sometimes referred to as the winter vomiting bug in the UK and Ireland, is the most common cause of viral gastroenteritis in humans. 

The virus is transmitted by fecally contaminated food or water, by person-to-person contact and via aerosolisation of vomited virus and subsequent contamination of surfaces.

Norovirus infection is characterised by nausea, vomiting, watery diarrhea, abdominal pain, and in some cases, loss of taste.

A person usually develops symptoms of gastroenteritis 12 to 48 hours after being exposed to norovirus.

General lethargy, weakness, muscle aches, headaches, and low-grade fevers may occur.

The disease is usually self-limiting and severe illness is rare.

Outbreaks of norovirus infection often occur in closed or semi-closed communities, such as long-term care facilities, overnight camps, hospitals, schools, prisons, clubs, dormitories, and cruise ships, where the infection spreads very rapidly either by person-to-person transmission or through contaminated food.

Many norovirus outbreaks have been traced to food that was handled by one infected person. ENDS