Norovirus—more commonly known as the stomach bug—is on the rise in the Northeast region of the U.S. Here's what infectious disease experts recommend to stay safe.
Norovirus, more commonly known as the stomach bug or winter vomiting illness, is an extremely contagious virus that causes vomiting and diarrhea.
While surveillance data show an increase in positive test results nationwide—as is typical for norovirus during the winter months—northeastern states have been hit especially hard, with a three-week average of 13.4% for positive norovirus tests. Those tests have held above a 10% positive rate since December 2023.
The contagiousness of the virus paired with people being in close quarters during the winter months is often what drives surges in cases. “Social interaction of any sort is going to bring you into contact with people that have this,” infectious disease expert Most commonly, norovirus is spread through direct contact with an infected person, like caring for an ill friend or family member.
If someone in your house has norovirus, it's important to thoroughly clean contaminated surfaces with a bleach solution, said an infectious disease specialist and professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. Keep other frequently touched surfaces, like doorknobs and remote controls clean, too.
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