Latest news with #norovirus
The Independent
a day ago
- General
- The Independent
Will norovirus surge early again this year? Here's what scientists say
Will the upcoming norovirus season be just as early and active as the past year? While the answer may be anyone's guess right now, federal health officials recently warned that the dominant strain of the contagious virus — the leading cause of vomiting, diarrhea, and foodborne illness in the U.S. — has changed between the 2022-2023 and 2024-2025 seasons. 'GII.17 has caused 75 percent of all norovirus outbreaks during the 2024–25 season so far, thereby replacing GII.4 as the predominant norovirus outbreak strain in the United States,' Centers for Disease Control researchers wrote in an article published this month by the agency's Emerging Infectious Diseases journal. This past season also started at the earlier date of October, as opposed to December. GII.17 also drove a record wave of outbreaks. But, what all of this might mean going forward needs further research. 'Additional sequence analysis of complete GII.17 genomes and identification of cross-protective neutralizing antibodies of GII.17 compared with GII.4 viruses could help clarify whether GII.17 viruses will persist. Continued surveillance is needed to determine if this genotype remains the dominant genotype, as well as whether the norovirus season continues to start earlier than previous years,' they wrote. A spokesperson for the agency told CBS News that there are 'currently insufficient historic data to predict whether norovirus GII.17 will remain the dominant genotype and lead to an earlier onset of the norovirus season later this year.' They pointed to a surge of GII.17 strains in Asia and Europe in 2014 that was followed by no reports of a change to seasonality, and noted that there has been no clear evidence to prove that GII.17's emergence was the cause of a change to the norovirus season last year. Still, this past season reached the worst levels in a decade. There were 91 suspected or confirmed outbreaks during the first week of December, which Yale Medicine said exceeded the number of outbreaks during the same week in any year since 2012. The majority were the GII.7 strain. In years when there is a new strain of the virus, there can be 50 percent more norovirus illness. Cases continued to tick up months into this year. By May 7, there were 2,571 outbreaks. During the same time last year, there were only 1,358. 'The total number of outbreaks reported during the 2024 to 2025 seasonal year is above the range reported during the same period during the 2012 to 2020 and 2021 to 2024 seasonal years,' the CDC said. But, cases in the previous season were lower than normal. Typically, there are about 2,500 reported norovirus outbreaks in the U.S. each year. Cases have fallen markedly since January, and are now at low levels. While the outbreaks occur throughout the year, they are the most common from November to April as people head indoors and it's easier to spread norovirus through infected particles. Anyone who consumes raw shellfish is also at risk of contracting it. Infection can be deadly largely among adults aged 65 and up, but anyone can get sick. Children younger than 5 years old and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to develop severe infections. There are 900 deaths on average each year and between 19 and 21 million illnesses. There's no specific treatment for norovirus, but most people recover with a period of up to three days. 'The norovirus can spread so quickly, but also, as we already talked about, norovirus can be very — it's usually very fast. So yeah, if people are taking care of themselves, we leave them alone,' explained Dr. Joanna Bisgrove, a family physician at Rush University Medical Center. 'But if it keeps going, we're like, maybe this isn't norovirus, and we need to do other things.'
CBS News
2 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Will norovirus surge early again this year? CDC urges tracking of new strain.
After years of largely predictable norovirus waves, the emergence of a new strain might have disrupted the seasonal pattern of outbreaks from this notorious stomach bug, suggests a new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In previous years, the U.S. usually saw norovirus outbreaks increase around December. That marked the start of the season for the virus. But last year's season started in October, as a new norovirus strain called GII.17 drove a record wave of outbreaks. "Continued surveillance is needed to determine if this genotype remains the dominant genotype, as well as whether the norovirus season continues to start earlier than previous years," wrote two of CDC's top norovirus researchers, in an article published this month by the agency's Emerging Infectious Diseases journal. Outbreaks have since slowed to usual levels. But with GII.17 now identified in more than 3 in 4 outbreaks in the U.S., its displacement of the GII.4 strain that had previously been dominant is raising questions about whether norovirus season could arrive early again. "GII.4 viruses are the main driver for norovirus seasonality. With the decrease of GII.4 outbreaks since 2024, whether GII.17 viruses will continue to cause an earlier onset of the norovirus season cannot yet be determined," the CDC researchers wrote. Several other countries also saw unusually large or shifted waves of norovirus this past year, after GII.17 surged to dominance. In England, norovirus reports reached levels more than double recent seasons. GII.17 was the most frequently reported genotype of norovirus through April, far above GII.4. In Japan, where GII.17 previously drove a wave of infections a decade ago, local health authorities in Tokyo reported a steep wave of infectious gastroenteritis — most from norovirus — that peaked weeks later than previous seasons and remains above recent years. Miranda de Graaf, a scientist at Erasmus University Medical Center in the Netherlands coordinating the global NoroNet network of norovirus researchers, said the Dutch nation did not see an earlier start to its norovirus season. But the country did see higher numbers of norovirus outbreaks, including a few large outbreaks in between when the usual seasonal surges occurred. GII.4 was still being detected around the world, meaning it was possible that GII.17's dominance could be short-lived, de Graaf said. Researchers had previously wondered if GII.17 could permanently take over, only to see GII.4 cases continue to remain dominant. "GII.17 only replaced GII.4 last year, and there has not been another seasonal peak after that. Therefore it is not clear if these shifts will last, or if GII.17 will be the predominant strain next winter season," de Graaf said in an email. Benjamin Lopman, an epidemiology professor at Emory University who previously worked for the CDC's viral diseases division, said shifts in norovirus strains happen "when new variants find ways around the immunity that people have built up" to previous strains. He said that new strains usually trigger more frequent outbreaks earlier in the season. "I expect we'll see outbreak patterns return to more typical levels and seasonal patterns in the coming years, though it's always challenging to predict how these viruses will behave," Lopman said in an email.
The Sun
29-05-2025
- General
- The Sun
‘Stay at home' warning issued to Brits over ‘incredibly infectious' virus that forced school to shut after outbreak
A 'STAY AT HOME' warning has been issued to Brits, after an infectious virus caused a school to shut down. Three children at a primary school in Hampshire were hospitalised after contracting the virus last week, with the school forced to partially close on Friday. 3 3 The children - along with four other pupils in the same class, who were not sick enough to go to hospital - had contracted norovirus, an "incredibly infectious virus" that can be spread for 48 hours after symptoms stop. Following the outbreak, at Compton All Saints Church of England Primary School, near Winchester, the Government has issued a 'stay at home' warning to anyone who has contracted the virus. The UK Health Security Agency said: "Norovirus is incredibly infectious, so if you're feeling unwell stay home for 48 hours after symptoms stop as you are still infectious during this time." The 120-pupil school revealed that he UKHSA had advised them to isolate the class with the outbreak from the rest of the school. However, since this was "logistically impossible", Compton All Saints was forced to close the class. The school was then subject to a deep clean, as the children broke up from school for the half term break. Cases of norovirus - which is known as the winter vomiting bug - are above average for this time of year. The last UKHSA report revealed that cases were more than double the five season average, with a total of 14,959 laboratory reports between March 31 and April 27, compared to the average of 6,446. What is norovirus? Norovirus is an incredibly contagious stomach bug, which causes vomiting and diarrhoea, as well as a high temperature, headaches, stomach ache and body aches. It spreads very easily between people, and symptoms strike within hours or days of infection. The virus is spread through being in close contact with someone with the illness, or touching infected surfaces and then touching your mouth. What are the norovirus symptoms and how long does the winter vomiting bug last? It can also spread through eating food that has been handled by someone who has norovirus, or drinking unclean water. When you have norovirus, you shed billions of tiny particles, that can only be seen with a mircoscope. It takes just a few norovirus particles to make people infected and sick. Norovirus: Key symptoms + how to protect yourself The main symptoms or norovirus, according to the NHS, are: Feeling sick (nausea) Diarrhoea Being sick (vomiting) You may also have: A high temperature A headache Aching arms and legs You can usually treat norovirus at home - the most important thing to do is rest and have lots of fluids to avoid dehydration. As norovirus is easily spread it's important to do what you can to prevent catching it. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends four things you can do to protect yourself. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially: After using the toilet or changing nappies Before eating, preparing, or handling food Before giving yourself or someone else medicine It's important to be aware hand sanitisers don't always work well against norovirus. You can use them in addition to hand washing, but it shouldn't be a substitution. Before preparing and eating your food the CDC recommends the following: Carefully wash fruits and vegetables well Cook oysters and other shellfish thoroughly to an internal temperature of at least 63°C Routinely clean and sanitise kitchen utensils, cutting boards, counters, and surfaces, especially after handling shellfish Keep raw oysters away from ready-to-eat food in your shopping basket, refrigerator, and on cutting boards Throw away food that might contain norovirus Noroviruses are relatively resistant to heat and can survive temperatures as high as 63°C. Quick steaming processes will not heat foods enough to kill noroviruses. And be aware food contaminated with norovirus may look, smell, or taste normal. After someone with norovirus vomits and has diarrhoea you should: Wear rubber or disposable gloves and wipe the entire area with paper towels and throw them in a plastic trash bag Disinfect the area as directed on the product label Leave bleach disinfectant on the affected area for at least five minutes Clean the entire area again with soap and hot water Wash laundry, take out the trash, and wash your hands An expert recently warned norovirus can spread via clothes. Immediately remove and wash clothes or linens that may have vomit or poo on them. When you do this: Wear rubber or disposable gloves Handle items carefully without shaking them Wash the items with detergent and hot water at the maximum available cycle length and then machine dry them at the highest heat setting Wash your hands after with soap and water Because of this, the bug can spread rapidly through hospitals, making patients, staff and visitors ill. The NHS advise for people who have contracted the virus is: "Stay off school or work until you have not been sick or had diarrhoea for at least two days. "This is when you're most infectious. "Do not visit hospitals or care homes during this time." Most people start to recover from the virus in two to three days. However, in some cases, it can linger for weeks or even months. Brits are advised to call 111 if vomiting hasn't stopped after two days, or diarrhoea hasn't stopped after seven days. 3
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
FDA recalls oysters due to potential norovirus contamination ahead of Memorial Day
The Food and Drug Administration has advised restaurants and retailers against selling or serving certain oysters imported from the Republic of Korea due to their potential contamination with norovirus. A recall of the particular shellfish was issued on the Thursday before Memorial Day weekend. The warning posted to the FDA website alerts restaurants and food retailers in Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Nevada, Texas, Utah and Washington not to sell or serve certain frozen, raw and half-shell oysters. They should safely dispose of the potentially contaminated oysters or contact their distributor to arrange for destruction. Individual consumers in those states who have also purchased these oysters are advised to do the same. The notice further warns consumers that food containing norovirus may 'look, smell, and taste normal.' However, consuming these potentially hazardous products 'can cause illness, and potentially severe illness in people with compromised immune systems,' according to the FDA. Norovirus is a highly contagious stomach bug with common symptoms including diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and stomach pain. People who experience symptoms should contact their healthcare provider and report their symptoms to their local health department. Symptoms typically develop within 12 to 48 hours after being exposed to norovirus, and most people with norovirus illness get better within one to three days, according to the FDA. The advisory goes on to list a few steps employees should follow to prevent cross-contamination. This latest recall of oysters due to the potential risk of norovirus contamination comes months after the FDA issued a similar recall four times within a month for the same reason in February. In December 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the 'number of reported norovirus outbreaks have exceeded the numbers that we've seen recently and in the years before the pandemic.'
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Oysters recalled for possible norovirus contamination
The Brief The FDA is advising not to eat certain recalled oysters for possible norovirus contamination. The oysters come from South Korea and were distributed to at least 10 known states. Khee Trading, Inc. of California has recalled the frozen half-shell oysters with the lot code B250130. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is alerting restaurants and food retailers in several states that they may have purchased oysters that could be contaminated with norovirus. Recalled items Khee Trading, Inc. of California has recalled frozen half-shell oysters with the lot code B250130. These oysters were harvested from Designated Area No. 1 South Korea earlier this year. By the numbers The recall and public health alert didn't specify the quantity of how many oysters were included in the recall. Product distribution The oysters were shipped to distributors in several states, including: Arizona California Colorado Georgia Indiana Kansas Nevada Texas Utah Washington The FDA said the product may have been distributed to other states as well. RELATED: Cucumbers recalled after Salmonella sickens 26 in several states; 9 hospitalized Reason for recall The oysters may be contaminated with norovirus. Why you should care Shellfish, such as oysters, contaminated with norovirus can cause illness if eaten, and potentially severe illness. If you have norovirus illness, you can feel extremely ill, and vomit or have diarrhea many times a day. The most common symptoms of norovirus are diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and stomach pain. Other symptoms include fever, headache, and body ache. What you can do Restaurants and retailers should not serve or sell the potentially contaminated oysters. The FDA did not immediately report any illness connected to the oysters. The Source Information in this article was taken from a May 22, 2025, public health alert from the FDA, and a May 19, 2025, recall alert from the California Department of Public Health. This story was reported from Detroit.
