U.S. Seeing Sharp Rise in Norovirus Cases This December
By Physician’s Briefing Staff HealthDay Reporter
MONDAY, Dec. 30, 2024 -- Norovirus is surging across the United States this winter, according to the latest data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The data show 91 outbreaks of norovirus during the week of Dec. 5, a sharp rise from the 69 outbreaks recorded the previous week, according to the Associated Press. For context, the first week of December has typically seen a maximum of 65 outbreaks in recent years.
Outbreaks tend to occur in crowded settings such as nursing homes, schools, jails, and cruise ships. The report comes after a recent outbreak that infected more than 300 individuals onboard three different cruise ships earlier this month.
Norovirus spreads rapidly through direct contact with infected individuals or contaminated food, water, or surfaces. Symptoms usually appear 12 to 48 hours after exposure and last for one to three days. While most people recover fully, dehydration from vomiting and diarrhea can be dangerous, particularly for young children, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems.
The best defense against norovirus is frequent and thorough handwashing with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds, especially before meals. Disinfecting surfaces with household cleaners can also reduce the risk for infection.
Associated Press Article
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted December 2024
Read this next
Gastrointestinal Disease Tied to High Physical, Financial Burden
FRIDAY, April 18, 2025 -- Gastrointestinal (GI) diseases are responsible for a considerable and growing burden of health care use and costs within the United States, according to...
Guidelines Developed for Management of Gastric Premalignant Conditions
TUESDAY, March 25, 2025 -- In a clinical guideline issued by the American College of Gastroenterology and published online March 12 in the American Journal of...
More Than Two-Thirds of U.S. Counties Do Not Have a Gastroenterologist
FRIDAY, Feb. 21, 2025 -- About 69 percent of U.S. counties do not have a gastroenterologist, according to a research letter published online Feb. 6 in Gastroenterology. Xiaohan...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.