As if battling the cold and flu season weren't enough, there's a troubling new health threat on the rise: norovirus. This highly contagious virus has seen a significant spike in cases nationwide, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). During the week of December 5, there were a staggering 91 suspected or confirmed norovirus outbreaks reported across the country, almost double the 41 outbreaks reported during the same week in 2021-2024.

Norovirus is nothing to scoff at—it can lead to unpleasant symptoms including severe vomiting and diarrhea, often occurring simultaneously, making recovery a harrowing experience. Understanding the early warning signs can help you take precautionary measures.

Expert Insight

Dr. Amesh A. Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security and infectious disease specialist, sheds light on what to watch for.

First Symptoms of Norovirus

Norovirus tends to strike suddenly. According to Dr. Adalja, "Nausea and vomiting are usually the first symptoms." Accompanying these initial signs, you may also experience stomach cramps, fever, headaches, and body aches, as highlighted by the CDC.

How Norovirus Spreads

Norovirus is notoriously highly contagious and can spread in a variety of ways. Key transmission routes include:

Direct contact with an infected individual

Consuming contaminated food or beverages

Touching contaminated surfaces and then putting your hands to your mouth

The virus can survive on hard surfaces for up to 12 hours, with a chilling lifespan of up to 12 days on contaminated carpets, as per the UK's National Health Service.

Treatment and Recovery

Unfortunately, there is no specific medication to treat norovirus—antibiotics will not be effective. Instead, Dr. Adalja advises supportive care. This includes:

Sipping small amounts of fluids regularly to prevent dehydration

Using acetaminophen to alleviate body aches and fever

The good news? Most individuals recover from norovirus within one to three days. However, a lingering concern exists regarding contagiousness—a person can still spread the virus for up to two weeks after symptoms have subsided.

Prevention Tips

While anyone can fall victim to norovirus, vulnerable populations, such as the very young and the elderly, are at a heightened risk for severe dehydration. To minimize your chances of infection, Dr. Adalja suggests:

Evading close contact with visibly sick individuals

Practicing good hand hygiene by washing hands frequently

Despite your best efforts, it’s important to recognize that norovirus is an omnipresent threat, with everyone likely experiencing it multiple times throughout their lives, according to Dr. Adalja.

Stay informed, stay cautious, and protect yourself and those around you from this unwanted visitor during the holiday season and beyond.