Norovirus: What to know about rising outbreaks of the gastrointestinal ailment

The Washington Post
Dec 31, 2024

Norovirus: What to know about rising outbreaks of the gastrointestinal ailment


Cases of the illness known as norovirus — which induces miserable bouts of vomiting and diarrhea — are surging across the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Ninety-one outbreaks of the gastrointestinal bug were reported the week of Dec. 5, the latest period for which data is available. That’s 22 more outbreaks than in the last week of November. While sometimes referred to as the stomach flu, the disease is not caused by the influenza virus, which results in respiratory illness.

There are about 2,500 reported outbreaks each year in the United States, happening most frequently between November and April. When new strains of norovirus emerge, case counts usually rise, according to disease trackers.