Posted on 12/08/2025 1:59:06 PM PST by jerod
Some health experts worry that the variant GII.17 responsible for last year's spike may have mutated and become more contagious.
A nasty, highly contagious form of norovirus called “winter vomiting disease” is spreading across the country, according to an analysis of wastewater at NUMBER surveillance sites in the state.
Norovirus cases typically spike after Christmas and New Year’s gatherings, but the number of new cases in November showed a notable increase, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data.
The CDC tracks norovirus through voluntary reporting from clinics and state health departments, but says such data is unreliable because most people who get it are miserable for a few days, but don’t seek medical attention or require hospitalization.
The agency doesn’t monitor viral activity in wastewater; however, data from WastewaterSCAN, an academic program through Stanford University in partnership with Emory University, shows that norovirus has been rising nationally since mid-October.
There are about 2,500 reported norovirus outbreaks a year, according to the CDC. Some health experts worry that the variant GII.17, which was responsible for last year’s spike, may have mutated and become more contagious.
The GII.4 strain dominated norovirus outbreaks for more than 30 years, but last year, the GII.17 mutation was responsible for about 75 percent of outbreaks, according to the CDC.
Dr. Robert Atmar, professor in the Department of Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, told NBC News there are two possibilities: Either the virus changed to make it more transmissible, or changes in the population made more people susceptible.
“And probably it’s a combination of both,” Atmar said. “But whether it’s going to persist this year, I think, is one of the big questions in our scientific community.”
Symptoms of the GII.17 strain include forceful vomiting, intense diarrhea and stomach cramps that are especially hard on children under 5, adults over 85, and those with underlying health conditions, according to the CDC. Dehydration is a primary risk.
Because GII.17 is a new strain, people have less built-up immunity and may experience more severe illnesses.
“When new strains emerge, people are exposed to a strain that they have not previously been exposed to, and hence are more likely to get infected,” Lee-Ann Jaykus, a professor in the Department of Food, Bioprocessing and Nutrition Sciences at North Carolina State University, told Newsweek.
“Historically, new strains emerge every seven to 10 years, and we were due for one, so this is not surprising,” Jaykus said.
Vigorous hand-washing with hot water and soap and other good hygiene practices are crucial to limit the spread of norovirus. It spreads easily, either through direct contact with someone who is sick, eating food or drinking liquids contaminated with the virus, touching contaminated surfaces, and poor hand-washing.
You can't make this stuff up... But apparently they can.
oil of oregano helps prevent norovirus...
Maybe we should shut everything down and hide in our homes with masks on.
Is there a vaccine? And can we force everyone to take it?
“A nasty, highly contagious form of norovirus called “winter vomiting disease” is spreading across the country, according to an analysis of wastewater at NUMBER surveillance sites in the state.” That’d be a helluva job wouldn’t it, collecting samples?
Wear a mask.
That stuff is a godsend. I’ve used it several times during the past few years. In my personal experience, one or two doses, and sinus infections are GONE.
Do you use the pills or liquid??
Guess where it came from
Please be so kind and let me know how to use it. Thank you!
We'll also need digital vaccine passports.
Maybe Fauci can work on it through gain of function and make it more virulent!
I use a liquid. It’s strong and tastes horrible, so I put a few drops in a shot of orange juice.
BUT PEOPLE NEED TO BE CAREFUL! Oil of Oregano is NOT the same as essential oil of Oregano. You have to make sure you’re using the right one. I buy it at a health food store, and it’s in the aisle with supplements, not in the aisle with cosmetic stuff.
It’s expensive where I buy it, but it’s worked a charm on both sinus infections and gum infections.
(DISCLAIMER: I’m not a doctor, don’t play one on TV, never stayed in a Holiday Inn Express.)
You get the same disease when you watch MS NOW and CNN its all year round
We don’t know! Tell us, if you will!
CA....
Winter vomiting disease - otherwise know as being a New York Jets fan....
China.
How do you know this?
Source(s)?
CA....
“”surveillance sites in the state.””
I don’t see ANY state named in the article...where is this surveillance taking place?
What?
No vaccine?
Where’s Fauxcy?
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