Hometown notorious for norovirus

I overheard two women talking at an event recently. They were speculating on the origin of the norovirus, which appears periodically in the news.

And oddly enough, I knew exactly where norovirus came from – it's my hometown, Norwalk, Ohio.

The original strain shut down an elementary school there in 1968.

It's a particularly nasty virus, sometimes referred to as “winter vomiting disease” or “the stomach flu.”

And sadly, this is the season for it.

Experts say the best defense is a good offense, with lots of hand washing. But once you get it, you will feel horrible for about two days before you start recovering.

Norwalk has other claims to fame: It's the birthplace of Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Paul Brown, the high school mascot is a semi-truck and it is home to the International Hot Rod Association, too. But norovirus? That's the one connection to Norwalk I hear the most.