February 10, 2023
The symptoms of the highly contagious virus include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain.
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Norovirus seems to be at a seasonal peak.
At the end of last week, 15% of all norovirus test results came back positive. This was an average of three weeks. This is the highest rate of positive norovirus tests since March 2022.
Although it’s sometimes called the stomach flu or the norovirus, it is not the same virus as the influenza virus. It is a highly contagious virus that causes stomach symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain. Mild fever and aches can also be caused by the virus.
A few virus particles can make someone sick. They spread easily through surfaces, hands, food, water, and surfaces. According to the CDC, an infected person can spread the virus for up to two weeks after feeling better.
The Midwest had the highest norovirus test positivity rate in the region as of Saturday at 19%. This is higher than any week in the past year.
Through a network of 14 state departments, the agency monitors norovirus outbreaks. The network’s data is slow, but its most recent tally shows that 25 outbreaks were reported by state health departments as of the first week in January. This is the highest number since May. A total of 225 norovirus epidemics were reported to CDC between August and January, compared with 172 at the same time last year.
“Norovirus epidemics and reported cases from both State Health Departments and Clinical Laboratories are increasing, but remain within the expected range,” stated Kate Grusich (CDC spokesperson).
“Prevention measures taken during the Covid-19 pandemic were probably effective in preventing norovirus epidemics.” She said that the numbers of norovirus epidemics have returned to pre-pandemic levels as pandemic restrictions have been relaxed.
Norovirus is the most common cause of foodborne disease in the country. Produce can become contaminated if it is grown in contaminated water or washed in contaminated water. If oysters are caught in contaminated waters, they can also be at risk of contracting norovirus. A multistate epidemic was reported in December to Texas raw oysters. There were nearly 300 cases of norovirus.
Norovirus epidemics are most common in the United States between November and April. The country experiences an average of 20 million norovirus cases each year. Nearly 110,000 people are hospitalized and 900 die, mainly among the 65-plus population.
Although there is no cure for norovirus infection, the CDC suggests drinking plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration. The illness usually resolves in a matter of days.
According to the UK Health Security Agency, norovirus rates in England this year are extremely high. The average lab report of norovirus was 66% higher at the end of January than in the five seasons prior to the Covid Pandemic. The agency primarily attributes the rise in reporting to people aged 65 and over.