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Early Norovirus Uptick Hits U.S., With Midwest and Northeast Hotspots

Wastewater plus lab data point to an early uptick, prompting renewed guidance on handwashing with soap, bleach cleaning, 48-hour isolation.

Overview

  • WastewaterSCAN reports nationwide norovirus levels in the high range with a steady rise since October, with hotspots in Indiana, Michigan, Connecticut and Massachusetts.
  • CDC NoroSTAT data show lab test positivity near 13% in mid-November and about 12% for the week ending Nov. 22, a level higher than a few months ago with a brief late-November dip.
  • Outbreak counts so far this season are below last year’s pace and within the average range for this time of year, though experts say activity is climbing.
  • Last season’s surge was driven largely by the GII.17 variant, which accounted for about 75% of outbreaks, and specialists are watching whether it stays dominant or yields to GII.4.
  • Public-health advice stresses soap-and-water handwashing, bleach-based surface disinfection, isolation for at least 48 hours after symptoms, and avoiding cooking for others when ill.