There were 27 reported outbreaks during those weeks, twice the amount recorded over the same period last year.
🌸 Follow D.C. region Maryland does not track outbreaks by the week, according to a state health department spokesperson.
As of Monday, there were 16 confirmed norovirus outbreaks this year.
A spokesperson for D.C. Health said Monday that the city had no confirmed cases of norovirus.
Story continues below advertisement Overall, CDC data shows this year has seen a 36 percent increase in total norovirus outbreaks.
Also, some residents of the D.C have become ill due to a nationwide outbreak of norovirus, a highly contagious disease that can cause diarrhea, vomiting, and low-grade fevers. area during the past few weeks.
Norovirus cases, sometimes referred to as the “stomach bug” or “stomach flu,” typically increase between November and April, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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In the weeks of December, health officials in Virginia reported a rise in norovirus outbreaks, which the CDC defines as two or more cases. December 8th. 15. State data demonstrates. The number of outbreaks that were reported during those weeks was 27, which is twice as many as during the same time last year.
In the week of December. According to Virginia officials, the number of outbreaks in the state decreased to three on 22.
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Adhere to DdotC. area.
A spokesman for the Maryland state health department said the state does not keep track of outbreaks by week. This year, there have been 16 confirmed norovirus outbreaks as of Monday. There were 38 outbreaks in the state in 2023 and 37 in 2022.
However, outbreaks in other regions of the nation may indicate that Maryland is experiencing comparable patterns, according to James Campbell, a pediatric infectious disease pediatrician at the University of Maryland Children’s Hospital. He stated that states that report surges to the CDC are probably not the only regions experiencing an increase in outbreaks.
A D.C representative. On Monday, Health announced that there were no confirmed norovirus cases in the city.
Beyond DdotC. region, the latest CDC data indicates that during the week of December, there were 91 outbreaks in over a dozen states. 5, compared to 32 outbreaks two weeks ago. Information provided by regional health departments is reflected in the data.
Gabrina Dixon, a pediatric hospitalist at Children’s National Hospital, stated that norovirus spreads easily. Dixon stated, “It can spread throughout families, so if one person gets it, the entire family can get it.”. According to her, symptoms may manifest 12 to 48 hours after exposure and persist for a day or two.
Due to the amount of fluid lost, children, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems are most vulnerable to norovirus infection.
Total norovirus outbreaks have increased by 36% this year, according to CDC data. In 2023, from Aug. 1 and Dec. 11, 363 outbreaks were reported in the 14 states that are part of the CDC’s norovirus database. This year, during the same time frame, that number soared to 495 outbreaks.
The norovirus is contagious and often spreads through food. A food recall for specific oysters was announced by British Columbia public health officials this month in response to 77 norovirus cases that were reported in western Canada. The U. S. . Similar cautions were issued by the Food and Drug Administration regarding the oysters.
More than 40 outbreaks were reported this month by the Minnesota health department, which notifies the CDC of norovirus incidents. Officials say the number is nearly twice as high as usual.
Though the actual number may be higher, health experts estimate that there are roughly 2,500 norovirus outbreaks reported nationwide each year. Dixon stated that many times, norovirus is treated at home without being reported to health authorities.
She also mentioned that health sites do not always test people who may have it. “We do see kids who have diarrhea and vomiting,” she said. “Usually, it resolves itself. Most importantly, drink plenty of water. “”.
Dixon advises using bleach to clean household surfaces and washing hands frequently for at least 20 seconds.
The flu and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, are two other illnesses that peak in the winter, and she cautioned about their rise. Dixon stated that the number of cases in the District is “high for the winter season.”.
