U.S. norovirus cases spiking this holiday season. Here's how to avoid the stomach bug

With the wintertime acold and flu play upon us, Americans should beryllium connected the lookout for different ultra-contagious virus: our astir communal tummy bug.

The U.S. experienced the largest December norovirus surge since astatine slightest 2012, according to information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

During the week of Dec. 5, authorities wellness departments recorded 91 abstracted outbreaks nationwide, according to the CDC. The adjacent highest fig for that week since 2012 was 65 outbreaks.

Through November, determination person been 55 laboratory-confirmed cases of norovirus successful California, according to the authorities section of nationalist health. Data from December are not yet available.

Outbreaks are typically much wide successful January and February, the information show, raising concerns that the surge could continue.

Most norovirus cases are transmitted straight from 1 idiosyncratic to another, the CDC said, from actions specified arsenic touching nutrient oregon eating utensils. Restaurants, cruise ships, healthcare facilities and schools are communal transmission sites.

Additionally, contaminated food, h2o and surfaces tin dispersed the virus.

Last week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued advisories informing businesses and consumers against serving oregon eating oysters from Washington state, Canada and South Korea which whitethorn beryllium contaminated with norovirus.

Annually, the CDC reports immoderate 2,500 outbreaks nationally. But real-time monitoring information screen lone 14 states: Alabama, Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin.

Around fractional of outbreaks of food-related unwellness are caused by norovirus, per the CDC.

The astir communal symptoms of norovirus are vomiting, diarrhea, nausea and tummy pain. Symptoms usually amended successful 1 to 3 days, but those infected tin inactive dispersed the microorganism for respective days aft symptoms ease.

The champion ways to forestall the microorganism from spreading: washing hands, cooking shellfish thoroughly, washing fruits and vegetables, cleaning and disinfecting contaminated surfaces, washing laundry successful blistery h2o and staying location for 2 days aft symptoms stop.

The main attraction for norovirus is hydration to regenerate fluids mislaid by the patient. Those with terrible dehydration should question aesculapian attention, the CDC advises.