A Viral Outbreak: Outbreaks of norovirus, a virus that causes food poisoning, are becoming increasingly common

Twenty-eight percent of people tested positive for norovirus two weeks ago, compared with the usual 10% to 15%, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A new strain of norovirus is contributing to these rising numbers because people haven’t developed immunity yet, according to the CDC. This strain, called GII.17[P17], has replaced the previous one that was dominant for the last decade.

Norovirus is a virus that affects the digestive system. Unlike airborne viruses like influenza or COVID-19, norovirus spreads from hands, surfaces and food. It affects the upper and lower digestive tract, causing nausea, vomiting (upper digestive tract) and also diarrhea (lower digestive tract), according to University of Kansas infectious disease doctor and East parent Dana Hawkinson.

Symptoms usually last two to four days, but severe diarrhea can lead to dehydration, which can impact kidney function and require hospitalization to get fluids.

The virus is highly contagious because it doesn’t take very many viral particles to infect someone. Also, norovirus can still spread for more than two weeks after symptoms go away, according to the CDC.

Outbreaks are unpredictable, according to Hawkinson.

“You can have outbreaks that may involve a community or a certain school or daycare, and now it seems like there is more prevalence in the community,” Hawkinson said. “But there’s no way to predict it.”

Junior Ellie Moilanen got norovirus four days after her aunt and uncle visited from Minnesota during winter break. They had delayed their trip to Kansas because they had norovirus but decided to visit once their symptoms were gone.

Moilanen’s 11-year-old sister was the first in her family to get sick. The morning after their relatives left, Moilanen caught the virus. That same night, her dad started feeling unwell, and the next day, her mom had it too.

For an entire day, Moilanen had extreme nausea, chills and hot sweats. She wasn’t able to see her friends or continue her normal routine of working out and going on runs.

“I took ibuprofen and slept,” Moilanen said. “Sleeping was my best friend.”

Concerned about how severe the virus could be, Moilanen tried to figure out a way to help her symptoms.

“I looked on TikTok, and it said that people died from being dehydrated,” Moilanen said. “I drank more water than I’ve drank in so long. I just kept drinking it.”

The symptoms passed the next morning, and Moilanen was left with a dizziness that lasted for six hours.

“It was bad, but it was just 24 hours, and then I was kind of alive again,” Moilanen said. “It was really weird. I woke up [the next day] and I was like, ‘Okay, wow, I just feel dizzy now.’”

Because norovirus is so contagious, Moilanen and her family stayed in their house for a week after their symptoms were gone. Moilanen spent her time watching “The Vampire Diaries,” while her sister FaceTimed friends on her iPad and their parents worked from home.

Currently, there’s no cure for norovirus, but a preventive vaccine is being tested. According to the CDC, staying hydrated with balanced electrolyte solutions, isolating when necessary and practicing good hand-washing techniques are ways to stay safe right now.