NASHVILLE, Tenn. – in addition to a flu outbreak, some parts of Middle Tennessee are dealing with a stomach virus.

Dani Williamson, a nurse practitioner with Cool Springs Family Medicine, told Nashville's News 2 she's seen a number of cases in the past week.

“Gastroenteritis, [the] plain old stomach virus, it can last anywhere from 24 hours to several days,” Williamson said.

She said some of the symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, not being able to go to the bathroom, dry skin and dry mouth.

“There's not a whole lot you can do if it's just a virus,” she said.  “It has to run its course and it goes through the family.  when I was on all last week, I had phone calls that every single person in the family had it. it started with one and went all the way through.”

The weather may be partly to blame.

Cold temperatures, snowy conditions and school closings are all ingredients for an outbreak of illnesses.

“[The] winter is a good time for viruses to spread,” said Dr. William Schaffner, Chairman of Preventive Medicine at Vanderbilt University. ”The humidity is down and that permits virus spread, and people are spending a lot of time indoors, so they're close to each other.”

Schaffner said frequent hand-washing and avoiding people who are already sick are good ways to keep the germs away, but those who are already sick should stay home to avoid spreading them to other people.

The seasonal flu, according to the latest flu activity map from the CDC, is widespread in Tennessee and several other eastern states.Doctors have said getting a flu shot is the best way to protect against the seasonal flu virus. The Metro Health Department is offering the shots for $20 each at all three of its centers. Learn more about the flu and other viruses at CDC.gov.

Some recent customers of Jerry’s Famous Deli in Westwood are advised to receive hepatitis a vaccinations.

According to a report by the Department of Public Health, an employee at the restaurant has contracted the disease, which can be spread through close contact or fecal contamination of food or drink.

Customers who ate sandwiches at the restaurant or who ate catered sandwiches from this particular location on Nov. 18, 21, 23 or 24 should contact a physician immediately. Consumers of other foods or drinks are not considered to be at risk of contracting the virus.

A spokesperson for Jerry’s Famous Deli could not be reached on short notice.Those who are at risk should be vaccinated within two weeks of exposure, said Evi Desser, a nurse practitioner at the Arthur Ashe Student Health and Wellness Center.

The virus causes an infection that inflames the liver and decreases its function, according to the Mayo Clinic website. In most cases, however, the liver completely heals on its own without treatment or permanent damage.

Symptoms of hepatitis a include jaundice, nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, fever and abdominal cramps, according to the Department of Public Health statement.

Anyone who has already had the hepatitis a vaccination, even as a child, is immune to the disease.

The Ashe Center provides vaccines for $39. To make a reservation to see a primary care provider, students should make an appointment online. For additional questions or personal concerns, students may also send messages to their primary care provider via the Ashe Center’s website. The full public health report can be found on the website under “Health Alerts.”

In addition, the Department of Public Health will be providing vaccines through certain clinics in the area, a list of which is available on the department’s website at publichealth.lacounty.gov or by calling the L.a. County info line by dialing 211 on any cell phone.

BOSTON — Diagnosed with ovarian cancer two years ago, Svetlana Orlova developed life-threatening allergies to the chemotherapy that was supposed to cure her.”I got all flushed and itchy, and I had a little bit hard time of breathing,” said Orlova.It was her second round of chemotherapy, and her body was rejecting it. according to doctors at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, it’s something that will happen to 60 to 70 percent of patients receiving multiple chemotherapy doses. Other symptoms include nausea, back pain, vomiting and a drop in blood pressure.In the past, doctors would have switched Orlova to a second-line therapy, or next available treatment option. Doctors say they are often less effective.”But right away, when I had this reaction, my nurse practitioner told me the details that we had this unit and how its going to help,” said Orlova.Called the Desensitization Unit, it’s a joint venture of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. There, the treatment drugs don’t change, but rather, just how they’re administered.”And the way we have done it is introducing small amounts and doubling doses,” said Dr. Mariana Castells, the developer of the program and the director of the desensitization program at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. “And the doubling of those doses does not allow the cell the read this as an allergic component.”Where standard chemotherapy takes about an hour, the 12 step desensitization process takes five to six hours.”So through the desensitization, we’re now able to use drugs that we know are more effective, and hence, women are living longer,” said Dr. Ursula Matulonis, director of the Medical Gynecological Oncology Department at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.”And it makes me feel very confident. I’m still able to receive it despite the allergy, and I’m getting the best possible treatment for me,” said Orlova.Castells also said they’re studying if patients who develop allergies are better off in the long run. She said their immune systems seem to be more alert and ready to fight disease, which could be why they develop allergies in the first place.

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