Aggressive Stomach Bug Spreading in Some Parts of U.S., Experts Say
Cold and flu season is in full effect, and that includes the danger of contracting stomach flu. According to new data published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cases of norovirus have risen dramatically in New York City and across other states in the Northeast in recent months, and the presence of the stomach bug isn’t just limited to one region of the country.
The CDC reported that the three-week average for positive norovirus tests in the Northeast has gotten as high as 13.9 percent recently and remained above 10 percent since the middle of December 2023. Meanwhile, the West region has averaged 12 percent positivity, the Midwest around 10 percent, and South approximately 9.5 percent.
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You can usually tell you’ve been infected with norovirus pretty quickly, as symptom onset is immediate and lasts for one or two days. Common symptoms include nausea, stomach pain, fever, headache, and body aches. According to the CDC, there are between 19 and 21 million norovirus infections in the U.S. every year, with most of them occurring between November and April. And among those, 109,000 lead to hospitalizations, with approximately 900 deaths each year.
Safety is key when staying safe from the stomach-churning bug. The contagious virus is often spread through direct contact with an infected person, by eating food or drinking liquids contaminated with the virus, or touching contaminated surfaces. So to help prevent the spread, make sure you’re washing your hands with soap and water, cleaning and disinfecting surfaces with bleach, and washing laundry with hot water. And of course, make sure you’re not eating anything that could be filled with bacteria.
