United States: There are fresh reports of stomach bug outbreaks, which appear to be increasing in the country, and Florida has been singled out, according to the feds.
More about the news
For instance, in Florida, diarrhea was reported, and there was a rise in the incidence of norovirus; this is a viral disease that, this year alone, has been known to cause vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, and stomach aches.
Almost everybody has referred to it as the stomach flu, the stomach bug, or even the ‘Cruise Ship Virus’ for the reason that it is to blame for most cases of diarrhea on cruise ships.
According to the federal data collected, the United States recorded 91 norovirus-related outbreaks in the first week of December as compared to sixty-nine in the last week of November, miamiherald.com reported.
Rising cases
The 91 cases exceed the previous best of 65 outbreaks, which was observed in the same month, December several years ago, as reported by the CDC.
Cases of a wretched stomach bug are surging in parts of the United States this winter, according to government data. https://t.co/KecMUy2vOU
— Spectrum News 1 OH (@SpectrumNews1OH) January 2, 2025
People will normally be able to overcome this stomach-churning virus in a few days, but no one likes getting ill.
It is easy to pass, especially in winter, can infect anyone, and has a duration of one to three days.
How does the disease spread?
It is, therefore, more common for the virus to spread in places with a closed and crowded population, including hospitals, nursing homes, childcare centers, schools, and cruise ships, as reported by the Mayo Clinic.
Despite the fact that it is sometimes called the “stomach flu,” this virus is not related to the flu, which is influenza, miamiherald.com reported.
Cruise ship stomach bug illnesses hit 12-year high: CDC https://t.co/lj7OYiqfFd
— The Hill (@thehill) January 2, 2025
Norovirus spreads through hand-to-mouth contact with infected people, food, drinks, surfaces, and objects contaminated with the virus, as per the CDC.
Florida has the second-highest number of cases confirmed by the health authorities, reported between September 1, 2023, and October 31, 2024. It is confirmed by CaliciNet, a surveillance system that is supported by data provided by the CDC taken from public health laboratories across the country.