Norovirus outbreaks spiking in some states, CDC says

Reported norovirus outbreaks in early December doubled the previous high recorded during the same time in recent years, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Fourteen state health departments report data about the outbreaks to the CDC. The highly contagious illness causes acute gastroenteritis that triggers vomiting and diarrhea in patients.

About 90 outbreaks were reported by state health departments in the first week of December over the last several years, according to the CDC’s NoroSTAT Data Table. The jump was preceded by elevated outbreak numbers throughout November.

Where are the reported outbreaks occurring? The states that report norovirus data to the CDC are Alabama, Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

What is expected of the numbers? It’s unknown how the current rise in outbreaks may mimic previously reported outbreak patterns. Data from 2021-2024 showed a spike in outbreaks at both the beginning and end of February, with a slow descent through April. Officials confirm that the outbreaks are most common between November to April. Up to 21 million people in the United States contract the virus each year, causing over 100,000 hospitalizations and 900 deaths, according to the CDC.