United States: Among all the new viruses of noroviruses, now a maximum number of outbreaks takes place across the nation if the figures are depicted from the data procured from the CDC.
According to sources, the new strain of the bacteria is currently circulating through the country and on cruise ships and can, therefore, account for the dramatic surge noted in the previous month’s wave of the stomach bug.
About the latest strain
As scientists want it, this winter’s most common strain of norovirus was GII.17[P17].
The network of public health laboratories CaliciNet has disclosed that 70% of all patients in different norovirus cases sampled so far this season have tested positive for the new strain.
According to Jan Vinjé, head of the CDC’s CaliciNet system, “It is too early to tell if this strain is associated with more severe norovirus disease, but likely lower population immunity is the reason for the early surge of an otherwise seasonal increase of this virus,” CBS News reported.
A new strain of norovirus now makes up a majority of outbreaks nationwide, according to data from the CDC. Scientists call this winter's dominant norovirus strain GII.17[P17]. https://t.co/kEMLJNrukF
— KDKA (@KDKA) January 9, 2025
Since 2012, all waves of norovirus in the US have been overlaid by another genetic strain that, according to Vinjé, goes by the scientific name GII.4.
This season, less than seven percent of outbreaks involving norovirus have been associated with that particular GII.4.
Vinjé added that the GII.17 strain is associated with outbreaks “everywhere” within the nation concerning this season of the highly transmissible virus, including cruise ship outbreaks.
What does the CDC state?
The CDC identified at least half a dozen norovirus cases on vessels last month – the highest number reported for a specific month in more than 10 years.
Norovirus is the most prevalent cause of foodborne illness in the United States, and almost every year, it starts moving around the country right from the winter, CBS News reported.
Most incidents clear up without the patient needing to be diagnosed or treated by a physician, and, as such, the precise number of Americans who get ill cannot be ascertained.
Norovirus surge sweeps the nation as new year begins, CDC warns of highly contagious 'stomach bug'. https://t.co/gfajhabM7u
— CBS Philadelphia (@CBSPhiladelphia) January 9, 2025
Nevertheless, almost all records relating to the virus indicate that norovirus is on high throughout the country.
The positivity of norovirus tests from separate CDC network laboratories has risen to the highest weekly levels observed in years.
Norovirus data in numbers from testing firm BioFire Diagnostics is also starting to rise higher than previous seasonal levels.
Samples in wastewater tested by WastewaterSCAN have been “high” for norovirus in almost all the sites across the country that the firm has tested.