(Atlanta, GA) — Norovirus cases are rising across America as we head into Thanksgiving. The CDC says 14-percent of cases have come back positive this past week for this highly contagious gastrointestinal illness, which is often referred to as “stomach flu.” In fact, norovirus is not a type of influenza but rather the leading cause of foodborne illness in the U.S. States with the highest number of norovirus cases include Texas, Wyoming, Oklahoma, Nebraska and Alabama. The most common symptoms include stomach pain, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. Hand sanitizer is ineffective against norovirus so the CDC recommends washing your hands for 20 seconds with warm water after handling or preparing food, using the bathroom or changing a diaper.
Health officials are also raising concerns as the flu is spreading earlier than usual in some parts of the country. Some infectious disease specialists have already noted a sharp increase in flu cases over the past few weeks as a form of the virus, called H3N2 subclade K, has set off massive outbreaks in Canada and the U.K. According to the CDC, the majority of flu circulating so far this season in the U.S. is the H3N2 strain, which can cause more hospitalizations and deaths in older adults. The concerns come as millions of Americans prepare to travel and gather for Thanksgiving and other upcoming holidays.
Doctors say the best prevention is frequent hand washing. Don’t touch your face frequently, Taking vitamin C does NOT prevent colds or flue for most people, but it may slightly shorten their duration or reduce symptom severity if taken regularly. Oral zinc supplements may help shorten the duration of a cold, if taken within 24-hours of the first symptoms, but it’s not a guaranteed cure and can cause side effects.
