This year we had the most beautiful Christmas celebrations – the glow of the tree, the crackling fire, the thoughtful gifts and the countless feelings of gratitude. Then, just a few hours after Christmas dinner, I started feeling a little under the weather. A few hours later, I was so sick that I was locked in the bathroom and vomited. A few hours later, my two children joined me. We had a norovirus Christmas.
We are not alone. On social media, I saw friends in town and around the country posting similar reports about vomit marathons, sleepless nights washing vomit, and the dreaded “number three.” Furthermore, based on this anecdotal evidence, major agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are also reporting that yes, we are in the midst of a massive surge of norovirus.
Data shows that in the first week of December (the latest available data), 91 norovirus outbreaks were reported across the United States, the highest rate in the past 14 years.
“The number of norovirus outbreaks reported this year already exceeds the numbers we have seen in recent and pre-pandemic years,” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a statement.
The virus also stayed on cruise ships for a record length of time, where stomach bugs can easily spread quickly due to the close proximity and high volume of food production. Just last December, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported norovirus outbreaks on five major cruise ships, including the Queen Mary 2, Rotterdam, Ruby Princess and Suiterdam. According to official statistics, this is the largest disease outbreak on a cruise ship in the past 12 years.
What is norovirus?
Norovirus, commonly known as “stomach bug,” is an illness that often causes short-term (24-hour) loss of appetite, upset stomach, vomiting, and diarrhea. It may also occur at the same time as symptoms such as chills or fever.
The virus is incredibly contagious, spread through feces and vomit particles, and is often spread easily when an infected person prepares food. This is more common in winter and in places where people gather or where space is tight.
While most people recover from norovirus without incident, some people, especially those who are older or younger, may become dehydrated and require medical treatment, in addition to needing a lot of extra laundry.
How to prevent norovirus?
There are only a few proven ways to avoid norovirus—although even if you follow every tip, it’s difficult to avoid it completely forever.
First and most important, wash your hands, especially after using the bathroom or before cooking and eating. Keeping your kitchen clean and thoughtful when preparing food can also help stop the spread of viruses.
Second, if you are sick, stay home. It’s safest to stay away from public places for 48 hours after symptoms stop, so binge-watch a TV show or read that epic novel you’ve been reading instead of leaving home.
What should you do if you or your child is infected with norovirus?
Likewise, even if you can’t imagine feeling normal again, you should be fine within a day or two. The best thing you can do is rest, wait, and try not to panic too much.
Don’t eat too much when you’re sick – it’s probably the last thing you want to do. Stick to clear liquids like water and sports drinks. If you need to feel like you’re eating, try a little warm broth. Once you’re on the road to recovery, keep things simple to protect your stomach. Good options include chicken soup, bananas, bread, rice and potatoes. Oh – the jelly is delicious too!
Norovirus will likely always be a part of winter vacation and winter break—but we can do our part to stop its spread and get better as soon as possible. Remember, things are bad out there right now!
