Norovirus in the News: Norovirus is a very contagious virus. You can get norovirus from an infected person, contaminated food or water, or by touching contaminated surfaces. The virus causes your stomach or intestines or both to get inflamed (acute gastroenteritis). This leads you to have stomach pain, nausea, and diarrhea and to throw up. Anyone can be infected with norovirus and get sick.

Also, you can have norovirus illness many times in your life. Norovirus illness can be serious, especially for young children and older adults. Norovirus is the most common cause of acute gastroenteritis in the United States. Each year, it causes 19-21 million illnesses and contributes to 56,000-71,000 hospitalizations and 570-800 deaths. Norovirus is also the most common cause of foodborne-disease outbreaks in the United States. The best way to help prevent norovirus is to practice proper hand washing and general cleanliness.

A person infected with norovirus usually develops symptoms 12 to 48 hours after being exposed. Most people with norovirus illness get better within 1 to 3 days. If you have norovirus illness, you can feel extremely ill and throw up or have diarrhea many times a day. This can lead to dehydration, especially in young children, older adults, and people with other illnesses. Norovirus can spread quickly in closed places like daycare centers, nursing homes, schools, and cruise ships.

Most norovirus outbreaks happen from November to April in the United States.For more information about norovirus, including tips on what to do if you get norovirus illness, talk to the school nurse or visit www.cdc.gov/norovirus.

Article adapted from www.cdc.gov/norovirus

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