I can’t imagine that. An unusually large number of Americans are barfing these days.
In the first week of December, the most recent week for which data is available (indicated by the orange line in the chart below), 91 norovirus outbreaks were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). I did. This is more than has been reported in this period since 2012.
Viral gastroenteritis causes severe but thankfully short-term vomiting and diarrhea, with or without short-term fever, chills, and body aches. It usually spreads in the winter and subsides during the warmer months. This year’s increase was more ferocious than usual, with more outbreaks occurring earlier than in pandemic years (shown in blue) and pre-pandemic years (falling in the gray shaded area). .
Additionally, nearly 23% of people tested positive for norovirus at the end of December. clinical laboratory samples This percentage is extremely high, well above the typical peak of 10-15 percent.
The CDC’s numbers, while helpful in comparing patterns from year to year, vastly underestimate the true prevalence of norovirus, he said. lee ann jaycasa microbiologist at North Carolina State University, norocorea food virology collaboration between multiple federal agencies. “The numbers are really terrible,” she says.
Norovirus outbreak data is 14 state sampling — not the entire U.S. — and officials don’t count individual norovirus cases. Many people do not seek medical attention even if they have symptoms, but even if they do, norovirus is not a disease that doctors or testing facilities need to report at the time of diagnosis.
Experts say they don’t think the trend is solely a result of more people seeking treatment for their symptoms this year. “I think medical visits and infections are increasing, so this increase is real, not just an increase in testing,” said a norovirus researcher at Baylor College of Medicine. Ta. robert atmar he wrote in an email to Vox.
The best way to protect yourself from this season’s norovirus surge is to wash your damn hands: Norovirus is primarily spread when traces of a sick person’s poop or vomit enter our mouths through our hands or the food they have prepared. However, the virus can also spread by: aerosol It hangs around after someone barfs, so it’s also a good idea to take precautions if you’re near someone affected by this bug.
Why are norovirus levels so high right now?
Norovirus has peaked at higher than normal levels since the pandemic. That’s probably related to the fact that immunity to the virus only lasts for a few years. Increased mask-wearing, social distancing, and increased hand and surface hygiene have reduced norovirus levels during the pandemic. And by the time people stopped doing those things, the nation’s overall defenses against the virus had declined. This may explain why the U.S. had more infections after the pandemic than before.
“My first thought was, ‘Hmm, maybe there’s a new variant?'”
But this year’s rise is faster and higher than the trend in past years. Why is this season so bad?
“My first thought was, ‘Hmm, maybe there’s a new variant?'” Jacus says. In recent years, New variants of norovirus It is thought to be related to the rapid increase in the number of infections worldwide. On the other hand, the CDC genetic analysis Although the number of noroviruses circulating this season has yet to show any dramatic changes, many experts are considering the possibility of a new strain a top priority.
“I can guarantee you that our colleagues at the CDC are doing a lot of sequencing right now to see if there are new strains, but it’s too early to say there are new strains,” Jacas said. . (A CDC spokesperson acknowledged that the number of reported outbreaks this season exceeds both recent and pre-pandemic numbers.)
How to protect yourself from norovirus or what to do if you are infected with norovirus
The best ways to prevent the spread of this nasty infection are by washing your hands, cleaning surfaces carefully, distancing yourself from people who are sick, and wearing a mask if you think someone may have barfed nearby recently. is to do.
If you’ve been infected with this extremely nasty bug, take some solace in the fact that it usually disappears almost as quickly as it appears.
It’s important to stay hydrated. Drink water or electrolyte drinks every 15 to 30 minutes while you are feeling nauseous, then prop yourself up if you feel like lying down to prevent reflux. There is no need to inject 1 liter of fluid at once. You should consume enough to produce urine at least every 6 hours. Wait until you have an appetite to start eating solid foods, and start with bland foods like bananas or dry toast.
Alcohol-based sanitizers cannot completely kill norovirus, so wash your hands with soap and water. Also, clean shared surfaces with bleach-based products. It only takes a few virus particles to cause an infection, but the virus can survive on surfaces for weeks, so be as thorough as possible.
Seek medical attention if you develop bloody diarrhea, cannot maintain enough fluids to make urine, or if symptoms persist for more than 3 days.
If not, thank your lucky stars you’re done, and keep washing your hands. People often shed norovirus. week After that first great bathroom moment.
A vaccine for norovirus is probably several years away.
For healthy people, norovirus infection can be a truly dire situation in the bathroom, but it’s usually not fatal. But the virus can be life-threatening to infants and the elderly, and scientists around the world are working to develop vaccines aimed at dampening the worst effects of infection.
Several companies are attempting to develop norovirus vaccines using both mRNA vaccine technology and more traditional vaccine development strategies, with varying levels of success. Hillbacks Vaccine candidate development halted Moderna is in late-stage development after recent trials showed it was ineffective. mRNA vaccine For viruses, Vaxart is doing some research. Oral tablet vaccine candidateis only moderately effective in blunting symptoms.
It hasn’t been an easy road, said Jacas, who has advised pharmaceutical companies on potential applications for norovirus vaccines. “There are literally hundreds of [norovirus] “The Food and Drug Administration wants a vaccine that protects people from most, if not all, viruses,” she said. Additionally, manufacturers are finding it difficult to develop vaccines that provide protection for more than a few years.
Jacus said it will be at least three to five years before a norovirus vaccine is available to the narrowest segment of the population, likely infants. After all, young children are not only the most severely affected by severe abdominal pain, but they are also the ones most responsible for spreading the virus to the rest of us. They don’t wash their hands as regularly or thoroughly as adults and are constantly looking into each other’s faces.
Older people, especially those in nursing homes, will be the next priority because norovirus causes so many serious illnesses. The rest of the population will have to wait even longer for a shot to protect them from the dreaded stomach bug.
