Norovirus cases surge nationwide ahead of holiday season, CDC reports

• Norovirus cases are surging, with 14% of tests positive in mid-November, double the rate from August. Outbreaks have already sickened 173 cruise ship passengers in October.
• Norovirus causes 19-21 million illnesses annually in the U.S., leading to 465,000 ER visits, 109,000 hospitalizations and 900 deaths (mostly elderly). Symptoms (vomiting, diarrhea, fever) appear 12-48 hours after exposure.
• Wastewater data shows a 69% increase since October. A new variant (GII.17) may be more contagious, and immunity gaps make populations vulnerable. Hand sanitizers are less effective against norovirus.
• The CDC recommends the following prevention measures: handwashing with soap (not just sanitizer); using bleach-based disinfectants (norovirus survives on surfaces for weeks); avoiding raw shellfish (especially oysters); staying home 48 hours after symptoms end
• With holiday travel and gatherings, outbreaks may worsen.

Cases of norovirus, a highly contagious gastrointestinal illness, are rising sharply across the United States as the holiday season approaches, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The CDC reports that nearly 14% of norovirus tests came back positive in mid-November—double the rate recorded just three months ago in August.

The virus, often mislabeled as the “stomach flu” (though unrelated to influenza), is notorious for its rapid spread in crowded environments such as cruise ships, nursing homes, schools and prisons. Recent outbreaks have already sickened 98 passengers on a Royal Caribbean cruise and 75 on an Oceania Cruises ship in October alone.

BrightU.AI‘s Enoch explains that norovirus is a highly contagious, single-stranded RNA virus that is notorious for causing acute gastroenteritis, commonly referred to as stomach flu or food poisoning. Noroviruses are responsible for significant public health concerns worldwide, with an estimated 685 million cases and 200,000 deaths annually, primarily among children under five years old and the elderly.

A growing public health concern

Norovirus is the leading cause of foodborne illness in the U.S., responsible for 58% of infections annually, according to the CDC. Each year, it results in:

• 19–21 million illnesses
• 465,000 emergency room visits
• 109,000 hospitalizations
• 900 deaths (primarily in adults 65+)

Symptoms—vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, stomach pain, fever and body aches—typically appear 12–48 hours after exposure and last 1–3 days in healthy individuals. However, young children, the elderly and immunocompromised individuals face higher risks of severe dehydration, which can become life-threatening.

Why is norovirus spreading

WastewaterSCAN, a Stanford-Emory University monitoring program, detected a 69% increase in norovirus concentrations nationwide since October. Amanda Bidwell, scientific program manager for the program, noted that while current levels are lower than last year’s historic surge, outbreaks are expected to rise further.

Last year’s spike was fueled by an emerging variant, GII.17, which may have mutated to become more contagious.

Dr. Robert Atmar, a Baylor College of Medicine professor, explained: “The two possibilities are that something in the virus changed to make it more transmissible, or there were changes in the population that a larger proportion were susceptible. Probably it’s a combination of both.”

Yale University immunologist Dr. Craig Wilen added: “GII.17 was so effective last year because we had significantly less immunity to it. Traditional ethanol-based hand sanitizers don’t work as well for norovirus as they do for other viruses.”

How to protect yourself

The CDC emphasizes strict hygiene measures, as norovirus is resistant to most sanitizers and can survive on surfaces for weeks. Key prevention steps include:

• Washing hands vigorously with soap (not just sanitizer) for 20 seconds
• Disinfecting surfaces with bleach-based cleaners
• Avoiding raw shellfish (especially oysters, a common norovirus carrier)
• Staying home for at least 48 hours after symptoms subside (the virus remains contagious)

With holiday gatherings and travel increasing, experts warn that norovirus outbreaks could escalate. As Bidwell cautioned: “We have three years of data showing a strong seasonal pattern. But I can’t say right now how big of a peak it will be.”

Watch the video below about norovirus being a symbol of vaccine disasters.

This video is from the Chinese taking down EVIL CCP channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

ABCnews.go.com

CBSnews.com

NBCnews.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com