A stomach virus that causes violent diarrhea and vomiting is spreading rapidly across the Northeast, putting “lives on hold” in some areas.
The most recent 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 in early February, up from about 4 percent in November earlier. before the outbreak began.
Nationally, cases are also rising, with 12 percent of swabs now detecting the virus compared to nine percent in November. Cases are rising more rapidly in the South.
The virus returned with a vengeance after lockdowns and school closures, which were linked to weakened immune systems.
Locals report that many children are missing school due to stomach viruses in their area that are disrupting their daily lives.
The map above highlights the northeast region of the US currently facing a norovirus outbreak.
This graph shows how cases have increased by 15 percent in recent weeks. There is a drop in the most recent dates, but the data for these is incomplete and the line is expected to rise as more infections are recorded.
The above shows the difference in symptoms between Covid and norovirus
About 21 million Americans (or six percent of the population) become ill from norovirus each year, statistics suggest, and 109,000 are hospitalized.
Cases typically peak around February and March, along with other ailments, because people are forced to spend more time indoors due to cold weather.
The latest data for the North East showed the test positivity rate (or proportion of swabs detecting the virus) was 13.9 per cent in the week to February 3, compared to 12 per cent two weeks before.
Tests are typically done on people with weakened immune systems or who are in the hospital with an infection that does not clear up quickly.
Data from September to early February of this year shows that Minnesota and Wisconsin have been the hardest hit by norovirus, with both reporting more than five outbreaks during this period.
They are followed by California, Florida, Ohio and Virginia, which have reported four outbreaks so far.
But experts say cases are now also starting to rise in northeastern states, including New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
The red line shows the number of outbreaks recorded nationally this year compared to previous years. It is within the range of outbreaks from 2012 to 2020, before the Covid pandemic
The above shows how infections are increasing rapidly in the southern United States, although they are still below last year’s levels.
WebMD’s Dr. John Whyte told people to wash their hands to avoid becoming infected with the virus.
Norovirus spreads easily through contact with contaminated surfaces and then touching the area around the mouth or nose.
Infections usually cause gastrointestinal symptoms such as stomach pain and watery diarrhea, as well as fever and headache.
In the vast majority of cases, symptoms disappear within two days, and little treatment is needed other than bed rest.
Dr. John Whyte, medical director of WebMD, said ABC7 that the best way to avoid infection was to wash your hands.
He said: ‘It’s very much about hand washing.
‘You want to wash your hands with soap and water for about 20 to 30 seconds while you’re in the bathroom.
‘We also want to encourage people to stay home if they are sick. I know it’s hard for parents, but if someone feels sick, they should stay home.’
In New Jersey, Irving Elementary School in Highland Park, which has about 300 students, recently closed due to gastrointestinal illnesses.
The school underwent a deep cleaning, but was then quickly reopened to allow classes to resume.
It comes after the flu and RSV season arrived two months earlier than expected, as viruses remain out of their normal patterns due to the Covid pandemic.