{"id":59932,"date":"2025-12-15T20:23:07","date_gmt":"2025-12-16T01:23:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/?p=59932"},"modified":"2025-12-15T20:23:12","modified_gmt":"2025-12-16T01:23:12","slug":"winter-vomiting-disease-is-surging-in-the-u-s-heres-how-to-avoid-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/2025\/12\/15\/winter-vomiting-disease-is-surging-in-the-u-s-heres-how-to-avoid-it\/","title":{"rendered":"Winter vomiting disease is surging in the U.S. Here\u2019s how to avoid it.\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Health officials are reporting a surge in \u201cwinter vomiting disease\u201d with norovirus cases spiking across the U.S. since mid-October.<\/p>\n\n\n

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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention\u2019s National Wastewater Surveillance System<\/a>, which monitors infectious diseases through more than 1,000 wastewater sampling sites across the country, there have been significant norovirus outbreaks in Indiana, Louisiana, and Michigan, with Alabama, California, Florida, and Texas flagged for pockets of heavier concentration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The virus, sometimes called \u201cthe stomach flu\u201d or \u201ca stomach bug,\u201d causes acute gastroenteritis, or inflammation of the stomach or intestines. It typically peaks from December to April, so this surge, which started in October, is considered ahead of schedule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of particular concern is GII.17, a variant of norovirus, which saw a large uptick last year and is responsible for about 75% of outbreaks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou can get norovirus illness many times in your life because there are many different types of noroviruses. Infection with one type of norovirus may not protect you against other types,\u201d the CDC said in a press release. <\/a>\u201cIt is possible to develop protection against specific types. But it is not known exactly how long protection lasts. This may explain why so many people of all ages get infected during norovirus outbreaks.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The CDC noted that norovirus spreads through direct contact with someone who has it, including sharing food or utensils with them or eating food that\u2019s handled by them. Food and drinks can be contaminated with norovirus, and you can also get it by touching contaminated objects or surfaces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can spread norovirus for two weeks or more after you feel better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Symptoms of norovirus typically develop 12-48 hours after exposure. The most common symptoms are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n