As Flu Season Dwindles, Another Virus Is on the Rise

The end of February brings us one step closer to the close of flu season, but that doesn’t mean we’re going to get a break from mass numbers of patients presenting to emergency rooms and urgent care with signs of viral infection. This time it’s norovirus, however. According to an article published by Becker’s Hospital Review, there have been 25 outbreaks this year, compared with just 14 during the same period a year ago. In New York City, there’s been a roughly 50% increase in emergency room visits featuring symptoms typical for norovirus (nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and cramping, watery or loose stool, low-grade fever, and muscle pain). Typically, symptoms appear 12 to 48 hours after exposure and last 1 to 3 days. In a typical year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports norovirus is responsible for approximately 109,000 hospitalizations, 465,000 visits to the ED, and 900 fatalities.