norovirus appears to be at a seasonal high, according to Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
A three-week average of positive norovirus tests topped 15% last weekend. This is the highest since late March 2022.
Norovirus is sometimes called the gastroenteritis, but it is not related to the flu virus. Rather, it is a highly contagious virus that causes gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and stomach pain. Mild fever and pain are also possible.
Just a few virus particles can make someone sick and can easily spread through hands, surfaces, food and water. It can transmit the virus for up to 2 weeks.
Regionally, The Midwest had the highest average positive test rates Norovirus was over 19% as of Saturday, the highest for any week last year.
CDC did not immediately respond to requests for additional information about current norovirus infection rates.
The agency tracks norovirus outbreaks through a network of 14 state health departments. Network data is delayed, Recent tally It suggests that state health departments have reported 25 outbreaks as of the first week of January. Between August and early January, a total of 225 norovirus outbreaks were reported to the CDC, compared with 172 during the same period last season.
Norovirus is the leading cause of food poisoning in the country. Growing fruits and vegetables or washing them with contaminated water can contaminate food. Oysters also pose a risk of norovirus if harvested from contaminated water. multistate outbreak Nearly 300 norovirus cases have been reported, associated with raw oysters from Texas.
Most norovirus outbreaks in the United States occur between November and April. On average, the country experiences about 20 million cases a year, with nearly 110,000 hospitalizations and 900 deaths, most of them over the age of 65.
There is no cure for norovirus, but the CDC recommends drinking plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. The disease usually clears up within a few days.
In the UK, the incidence of norovirus this year is very high, According to the UK Health Security AgencyAs of the end of January, norovirus lab reports were 66% higher than the five-season average prior to the Covid pandemic. increase.
