Nausea? What to Know as Stomach Bug Outbreaks Hit Florida Hard

A surge in stomach bug outbreaks is hitting the country, and Florida is among the affected states, according to recent reports from federal health officials.

Parts of the country, including Florida, have seen an increase this year in cases of norovirus, a contagious virus that often causes vomiting, diarrhea, nausea and stomach pain. People call it stomach flu, stomach bug, or “cruise ship virus” because it is often the cause of most diarrhea outbreaks on cruise ships.

The United States reported 91 norovirus outbreaks in the first week of December, compared to 69 outbreaks in the last week of November, according to federal data. The 91 cases exceed the previous maximum of 65 outbreaks reported during the same December period several years ago, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Most people usually recover from the stomach-hurting virus within a few days, but it’s never fun getting sick.

So how is norovirus spread? What are its symptoms? And how do you treat it?

Here’s what you need to know:

How is norovirus spread?

• Norovirus spreads easily and can make anyone sick, with symptoms usually lasting one to three days. The virus is most often spread in closed, crowded environments, such as hospitals, nursing homes, daycares, schools and cruise ships, according to the Mayo Clinic. Although it is sometimes called “stomach flu,” the virus is not related to influenza, which is caused by the flu.
• You can get norovirus in a variety of ways, such as eating or drinking contaminated food and drinks, touching an infected surface and then touching your mouth, or having direct contact with someone sick with the virus, according to the CDC .

What is the situation in Florida?

Florida had the second highest number of confirmed norovirus outbreaks between September 1, 2023 and October 31, 2024, with 24 confirmed outbreaks, according to CaliciNet, a surveillance system that draws on data sent to the CDC by the public health laboratories around the world. the country. California recorded the highest number of confirmed outbreaks, with 43.

The Miami Herald contacted the CDC to ask what could be causing the increase in stomach bug outbreaks in Florida and elsewhere around the country and is awaiting a response.

Is this common?

• Norovirus is “the leading cause of vomiting, diarrhea, and foodborne illness in the United States,” with more than 2,500 norovirus outbreaks reported each year, according to the CDC.
• People can contract norovirus year-round, although outbreaks are most common from November to April, according to the CDC. Peak norovirus season typically runs from December to March.
• The federal health agency says the virus causes an average of 19 to 21 million illnesses in the United States each year. Even though most people recover, the virus causes about 900 deaths a year, mostly among adults 65 and older.
• Although the virus has been given the nickname “cruise ship virus,” in reality, norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships represent only 1% of all reported norovirus outbreaks, according to the CDC. In fact, acute gastrointestinal illnesses are quite rare on cruise ships, the agency says.

How do you know if it’s norovirus or food poisoning?

It can be difficult to know if your stomach upset is caused by food poisoning or norovirus. Both can cause explosive diarrhea, but there are some things to watch out for.

Food poisoning usually occurs within two to six hours after eating spoiled food. Norovirus symptoms, on the other hand, may appear about 24 to 48 hours after infection, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Norovirus symptoms also tend to linger for several days.

Another difference between stomach upset and food poisoning? How it spreads.

Food poisoning is caused by bacteria in undercooked or spoiled food. Norovirus, on the other hand, can be spread both by eating and drinking contaminated food and drinks, but also by being in close, direct contact with another person infected with the virus.

“Let’s say you sit down at a picnic and everyone eats the same food,” Dr. Donald Ford, chairman of the Department of Family Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic, said in a blog post. “It is very possible that many people have the same symptoms. Whereas, with a stomach illness, you may have been around someone in the last couple of days who had similar symptoms. It takes a few days for this to manifest. »

Update on norovirus in the United States

The CDC has several reporting and surveillance systems to assess the quantity and type of norovirus strains circulating in the country. Here is what the federal public health agency says:

No more norovirus outbreaks

“This year, the number of reported norovirus outbreaks has exceeded the numbers we saw recently and in the years before the pandemic,” the CDC told the Miami Herald in an email.

From Aug. 1 to Dec. 11, a total of 495 suspected and confirmed norovirus outbreaks were reported in parts of the country, an increase of about 36% over the same period last year, according to the CDC.

CDC data shows that norovirus outbreaks began to intensify in late November, when people were gathering for Thanksgiving.

Norovirus causes almost all gastrointestinal illness outbreaks on cruise ships docked in the United States in 2024.

According to the CDC’s Ship Sanitation Program, 16 gastrointestinal illness outbreaks have been reported on cruise ships this year, including five in December, and almost all of them have been determined to be caused by norovirus. Of the 16 outbreaks reported, 13 were declared caused by norovirus.

How to treat norovirus?

Although there is no specific treatment to treat the condition, the CDC recommends drinking plenty of water or other beverages, such as sports drinks, that do not contain caffeine or alcohol, which dehydrate you.

The best way to reduce your risk of getting sick? Wash your hands often with soap and water. And even if you still have a cupboard stocked with hand sanitizer from the COVID era, keep in mind that hand sanitizer doesn’t work well against norovirus.