VIDEO: Forget COVID — CDC Now Warns This Virus Is Highly Contagious

Daily Report USA

Winter months brought a surge of respiratory illness across the country. As flu, cold and COVID-19 cases further trend down, the CDC is now warning of an uptick in another type of illness: norovirus.

Public health officials have noted an increase in norovirus cases, the highly contagious virus that causes the “stomach flu.” The number of infections this year outpace the last few years, but decreased congregation from the COVID-19 pandemic most likely contributed to the lower-case counts, and we are now experiencing normal trends preceding COVID-19.

The stomach flu isn’t the same as the “flu” caused by influenza, which is characterized mostly by fever, fatigue and respiratory symptoms. The norovirus stomach flu has more focused and intense gastrointestinal symptoms and, in most cases, a shorter duration of sickness.

The most common symptoms of norovirus are:

  1. Diarrhea
  2. Vomiting
  3. Nausea
  4. Fatigue
  5. Stomach pain

Outbreaks most often occur during the colder months and in crowded environments, such as childcare centers, schools, nursing homes, hospitals, and cruise ships.

For the majority of people, the virus usually resolves on its own without medical intervention. However, in elderly and young children, symptoms such as dehydration can become worrisome and quickly lead to serious complications.

Unlike SARS-CoV-2, norovirus is the most common food-borne illness in the U.S.,  largely spreading from contaminated food and surfaces.

Norovirus typically spread from unwashed hands handling food or surfaces food is places on and commonly involves leafy greens, fresh fruit, and shellfish.

To decrease your risk of infection, it is recommended that you follow strict bathroom hand hygiene, wash hands before and after preparing food, rinse fruits and vegetables, cook shellfish thoroughly, and wipe and disinfect bathroom surfaces, especially after someone sick uses it.

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