A stomach virus known as norovirus is spreading across the northeastern United States, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The three-week average positivity rate for norovirus tests in the region has reached 13.9% in recent weeks and has remained above 10% since mid-December 2023.
There are many positive cases of norovirus in the Tohoku region. CDC data show Positive tests have also been reported in other areas in recent weeks. The rate is 9.5% in the South, around 10% in the Midwest, and about 12% in the West.
According to the CDC, norovirus is the leading cause of vomiting, diarrhea, and food poisoning in the United States. People of all ages can become infected, and the disease spreads “very easily and quickly.”
The CDC said that because there are many different types of the virus, a person can be infected with norovirus many times during their lifetime. “Infection with one type of norovirus may not protect you from other types of norovirus,” the advisory states.
People may develop protection against certain types of norovirus, but it is unclear how long the protection lasts.
Epidemics occur most often in late fall, winter, and early spring. Symptoms may also include fever, headache, dehydration, and body aches.
The CDC recommends washing your hands often with soap and water, cleaning and disinfecting surfaces with bleach, and washing laundry in hot water to prevent the spread of norovirus.
There are 19 million to 21 million cases of norovirus illness each year in the United States, with the highest number occurring between November and April. Approximately 109,000 people are hospitalized and 900 die each year, most often in the elderly. the CDC said.
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