A stomach bug that causes violent diarrhea and vomiting is spreading rapidly across the North East – putting ‘lives on hold’ in some areas.
Latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showed that nearly 14 percent of tests in the region came back positive for norovirus at the start of February — up from around 4 percent in November before the outbreak started.
Nationwide, cases are also rising — with 12 percent of swabs now detecting the virus compared to nine percent in November. Cases are rising fastest in the South.
Locals are reporting that many children are missing school because of stomach bugs in their area which are disrupting their daily lives.
The above map highlights the North East region of the US that is currently facing an outbreak of norovirus
This graph shows how cases have jumped 15 percent in recent weeks. There is a dip on the most recent dates, but data for these is incomplete, with the line expected to rise as more infections are recorded
The above shows the difference in symptoms between Covid and norovirus
About 21million Americans — or six percent of the population — are sickened by norovirus every year, statistics suggests, with 109,000 hospitalized.
Cases normally peak around February and March, alongside other ailments, because people are forced to spend more time indoors by cold weather.
Latest data for the North East showed the test positivity rate — the proportion of swabs done in hospitals that come back positive for the virus — was 13.9 percent in the week to February 3, compared to 12 percent two weeks earlier.
Data from September to the start of February this year shows that Minnesota and Wisconsin have been hardest hit with norovirus — with both reporting more than five outbreaks over this period.
They are followed by California, Florida, Ohio and Virginia which have all reported four outbreaks so far.
But experts say cases are now also starting to take off in states within the North East — including New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
The red line shows the number of outbreaks recorded nationwide this year compared to previous years. It is within the range of outbreaks in 2012 to 2020, before the Covid pandemic
The above shows how infections are rising rapidly in the southern United States, although they are still below the levels they were last year
Dr John Whyte, from WebMD, told people to wash their hands to avoid being infected with the virus
Norovirus spreads easily through contact with contaminated surfaces and then touching the area around the mouth or nose.
Infections typically cause gastrointestinal symptoms such as stomach ache and watery diarrhea — as well as a fever and a headache.
In the vast majority of cases, symptoms clear within two days — with little treatment needed besides bed rest.
Dr John Whyte, the chief medical officer at WebMD, told ABC7 that the best way to avoid an infection was to wash your hands.
He said: ‘It is very much about your own handwashing.
‘You want to wash your hands with soap and water for about 20 to 30 seconds while you are in the bathroom.
‘You also want to encourage people to stay home if they are sick. I know it is tough on parents but, if someone feels sick, they need to stay home.’
In New Jersey, Irving Primary School in Highland Park — which has about 300 students — closed recently because of gastrointestinal illnesses.
The school underwent deep cleaning but was then quickly reopened to allow lessons to resume.
It comes after the flu and RSV season arrived two months earlier than expected as viruses remain out of kilter with normal patterns because of the Covid pandemic.
