Cases of the highly contagious norovirus are reported to have doubled in the United States in recent months, according to data shared by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Nearly 14% of tests conducted during the most recent week ending November 15 were reported to have yielded positive cases for norovirus, which was twice as much as tests conducted three months prior at 7%. Test positivity measures how many people are confirmed to have norovirus after an illness is suspected, though health experts have acknowledged that it’s imperfect, like other forms of measurement, and depends on the number of tests that are ordered, which may vary.
The U.S. had previously seen a record-breaking rate of norovirus cases reported last December at 25%, though cases had been trending down before seeing another spike in recent weeks, according to CDC data. Alabama, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas and Wyoming are among the states currently facing the highest number of norovirus cases, with emergency department visits spiking since July, according to electronic health records data from Epic Research.
Norovirus is the most common cause of viral gastroenteritis, an inflammation in the lining of the gastrointestinal tract, and has several common symptoms including nausea, vomiting, stomach pain and diarrhea, though patients are also reported to experience fever, headaches and body aches less commonly. The contagious virus is the leading cause of foodborne illness nationally at 58% annually, with around 2,500 outbreaks reported each year, according to data shared by the CDC.
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