The 2023-2024 norovirus season is well underway in the United States. Cases of the highly contagious stomach bug, which causes diarrhea and vomiting, are climbing steadily across the country.
Although it’s commonly called the “stomach flu,” norovirus is not actually related to the flu, which is caused by influenza viruses.
Norovirus is a leading cause of acute gastroenteritis, or an inflammation of the lining of the stomach and intestines, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This results in intense bouts of vomiting, diarrhea, nausea and stomach cramps.
Symptoms usually begin 12 to 48 hours after exposure — these are often sudden and very unpleasant, but most people will recover on their own.
“This is the dreaded virus that leaves us in the bathroom for about a day or two, we’ve all been there,” NBC News medical contributor Dr. Tara Narula said on TODAY in a segment aired Feb. 27.
Norovorius is extremely contagious, and anyone can become infected. Every year in the U.S., it causes about 20 million cases of vomiting and diarrhea, 465,000 emergency room visits, 109,000 hospitalizations, and 900 deaths, per the CDC.
www.today.com/health/health/norovirus-2024-highly-contagious-stomach-bug-spiking-us-rcna140528