The Northeast has had the greatest rates of norovirus circulation since April of last year during the past month.(NORO VIRUS ATTACK IN USA)
Since late January, the average number of positive norovirus tests in the region has been above 13%, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Although it is less than the region’s rate at same time last year, it is still a larger share than in any other region of the country at the moment.
Cases of the norovirus tend to peak during the colder months (late fall, winter, and early spring). Since early January, the national percentage of norovirus positive has been ranging between 10% and 12.5%. In contrast, mid-March peak rates from the previous year were higher than 16%.
The second-hardest impacted states are the Western ones; as of Saturday, their three-week optimism rate was 12%.
Although norovirus is sometimes referred to as the “stomach flu,” influenza is unrelated to norovirus. Symptoms of the extremely contagious virus that typically affect the gastrointestinal tract include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach discomfort. A slight fever and pains are also possible.
A person can become ill with norovirus with just a few particles on their hands or surfaces, and those who have the illness excrete billions of virus particles in their feces and vomit. Days or even weeks can pass while the virus remains on materials and objects.
The CDC states that an infected person can continue to spread the norovirus even after feeling well, possibly for as long as two weeks.
Because the virus can potentially spread through contaminated food, it is frequently called “food poisoning.” The most common cause of foodborne illness in the nation is norovirus. Fruits and vegetables that are cultivated or cleaned in contaminated water might contaminate food.
If oysters are collected from tainted water, they can potentially transmit the norovirus. As of right now, the FDA is warning customers, merchants, and eateries not to serve or consume certain oysters that come from Sonora, Mexico, and Baja California.
At least 241 people were afflicted by a norovirus outbreak in December that was connected to a sushi restaurant in North Carolina.
In the United States, norovirus epidemics often occur between November and April. The nation sees about 20 million cases annually on average.
The virus has no known cure, so the CDC advises staying hydrated by consuming lots of fluids. Usually, the disease clears up after a few days.
