Norovirus: A Quick Look at the Recent Surge

Norovirus is making people sick across the US, especially in December. This virus causes nasty symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea, and it's not related to the flu. It's so contagious that it can spread easily in places like restaurants and schools. In fact, a big event in Los Angeles recently made over 80 people ill after they ate raw oysters. The main way to protect yourself is by washing your hands properly, because hand sanitizers don't work well against this virus. There's no specific medicine for norovirus, so it's important to stay hydrated and manage symptoms until they go away. In Minnesota, for example, there were way more outbreaks than usual in December. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that norovirus is the top cause of foodborne illness in the US, causing millions of illnesses each year. Kids under 1, senior citizens, and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk for serious issues. The good news is that the virus usually goes away within a few days in healthy adults. To keep norovirus away, it's crucial to clean fruits and veggies, cook shellfish well, and wash hands in key moments like after using the toilet or handling food.