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Norovirus season is here.
And it has friends!
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is tracking a nationwide “quad-demic,” when you add norovirus outbreaks to seasonal flu, COVID, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
Most people understand how to avoid respiratory illnesses like flu, COVID, and RSV. During the pandemic we were inundated with information about covering you mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough. Keeping six feet away. Washing your hands.
But what about norovirus?
There isn’t as much mainstream advice for this gastrointestinal virus. Despite how contagious it is and how easily you can become seriously sick.
Follow along to learn more about the current norovirus season statistics, a bit about the illness and its symptoms, and how to protect yourself from the stomach bug.
Data from the CDC’s 2024-25 documented season is at a significant high.
Positivity rates are a measure of the number of positive test results (a norovirus diagnosis) compared to the number of samples submitted.
Weekly positivity tests show a 340% surge, with the week before Christmas reaching a seasonal high of 22%. A 109% increase in five weeks (from data ending November 16).
On top of this influx of norovirus results, undocumented illnesses are also likely increasing.
These statistics are obtained from those who sought medical care and had their illness confirmed with laboratory tests. Countless others often ride out their illness on their own and therefore are never tested for norovirus. Those illnesses are not included in these statistics.
On an average year, around 2,500 norovirus outbreaks are reported to the CDC. This amounts to some serious consequences.
Norovirus accounts for:
Norovirus travels easily. While most frequently associated with cruise ships, (likely because of close proximity to a lot of people for an extended period of time), norovirus season impacts potentially all parts of the country.
Data shows, however, that some areas have been hit harder than others.
The Midwest Census Region has been the hardest hit this norovirus season. The area spanning from Ohio to the Dakotas and down to Kansas and Missouri has exceeded 25% of the national average.
The Northeast, on the other hand, has shown the lowest positivity rate. The New England, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania area showed a positivity rate of 12%. This region has been an outlier in data collection, as it is the only region to show a decrease.
In the cases of the 2024-25 Norovirus season, the cruise ship stereotype was more fact than superstition.
There have been five cruise ship outbreaks during the month of December alone. In fact, Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 experienced back-to-back outbreaks on voyages beginning on December 14 and again on December 21.
Norovirus is a viral infection. While often called “the stomach flu” because people experience many of the same symptoms between the two illnesses, it is a gastrointestinal virus. As opposed to a respiratory virus.
Outbreaks are often foodborne because it is highly contagious and transmitted via fecal-oral route.
You become sick with norovirus after touching something an infected person has touched without effectively washing their hands and then eating or touching your own mouth.
It doesn’t take much to become sick either. Health experts say that you can become infected with as few as 10 viral particles. Even trace amounts that you cannot see, taste, or smell can be enough to spread infection.
People begin feeling sick around 12 to 48 hours after exposure. These symptoms can range from mild to so severe that an individual can become seriously dehydrated or require hospitalization to recover from their illness.
Common symptoms include:
Most people recover within a few days (one to three).
But be careful!
You are most contagious and likely to transmit your illness to others while you are actively sick through the first few days of feeling better.
None of those symptoms sound fun at all! Your best bet this norovirus season is to try to keep from becoming sick in the first place.
Here are a few tips to keep yourself safe from norovirus this season.
This one is a no brainer. In fact, effective hand washing is a great way to prevent most illnesses. Both respiratory and foodborne.
Wash your hands before you eat or prepare food, after you use the restroom or help someone use the restroom (including changing diapers), and as often as you think about it.
I know you may want to be social. But the best way to avoid illness is to avoid being around people who are sick.
Keep an ear out for friends and family saying that “the stomach bug has been going around their family.” Perhaps err on the side of caution and reschedule for a time when everyone is feeling better.
Norovirus season or not, thoroughly washing all your fruits and vegetables is a good way to reduce the spread of illness.
In addition to your produce potentially coming contaminated to the grocery store, while it is in the bins and on the shelf, anyone can pick it up to examine it at the store. How many times has that apple been handled before it made it to your cart? How clean were all of those hands? I don’t want to take that gamble.
It’s just a good practice to wash all of your produce before you eat it or cut it. Even those that you do not eat the rind or skin. As a knife drags through the flesh, any lurking germs on the surface can make their way inside. So don’t forget to wash those oranges, avocados, and even your melons.
If you are already sick with norovirus, here are a few tips to help.
Dehydration is a serious complication. Especially for gastrointestinal illnesses causing significant vomiting or diarrhea that depletes your body of necessary water.
Drink plenty of fluids, replace electrolytes with products designed to help with that. But avoid those overly sweetened.
It’s also a good idea to stay away from caffeine and sugary drinks while you recover.
While you recover, get plenty of rest. Your body is helping to repair itself while you are resting. Give it a chance to do what it does best.
Go to bed early. Take naps. Avoid strenuous activity.
Your body will thank you.
Your family and friends will appreciate you keeping your germs to yourself. Try to prevent spreading the virus to those you love. And even those you don’t.
Don’t be a jerk.
Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly. Especially after using the bathroom. Avoid preparing or serving food for others. Let someone who is not carrying a contagious illness do that if possible.
Your family will thank you.
If you have been sick with norovirus lately, you are not alone. Cases continue to flow into emergency rooms and urgent care centers.
Restaurants and food service facilities must be extra vigilant to monitor staff for this illness. A sick employee can easily spread the virus to hundreds of people during a shift. Sick food workers are one of the more common sources of foodborne illness.
If you have become sick with foodborne norovirus, it’s a good idea to get advice from an experienced norovirus lawyer.
If you have been seriously impacted by your norovirus illness and involved in a restaurant foodborne outbreak, you may have a legal case.
The Lange Law Firm, PLLC has a norovirus lawyer to help you navigate the legal process.
The Lange Law Firm, PLLC has recovered millions of dollars in food contamination and product liability suits to help cover medical expenses, missed work, and other burdens associated with foodborne illness.
Call (833) 330-3663 or submit your information on the online submission form for a free, no obligation consultation to go over the details of your situation.
By: Heather Van Tassell (contributing writer, non-lawyer)
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