WATCH: What You Need to Know About the Norovirus for 2025 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
By Space Coast Daily // January 7, 2025
Centers for Disease Control releases data monthly regarding spread of Norovirus
BREVARD COUNTY • FLORIDA — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is continuing to track and monitor the Norovirus to keep the public prepared and protected.
Norovirus is a very contagious virus that can be contracted from an infected person, contaminated food or water, or by touching contaminated surfaces. Public concerns have been high regarding this illness as the nation turns into the new year.
The Centers for Disease Control releases updated data each month regarding the spread of the Norovirus. The last update was released on December 5, 2024, leaving the nation due for another update.
ABOVE VIDEO: ABC’s Chief Medical Editor and expert on viruses and epidemics, Dr. Richard Besser, discusses how to avoid the highly contagious norovirus.
At first glance at the data table, many reports have noticed that the number of cases of concern from the CDC has increased since the November 2024 update. An increase of 22 cases was noted, from 69 in November to 91 in December. This could be understandably concerning for public health.
However, if you look closer at the table notes from the CDC, you can notice that the table includes confirmed and suspected virus cases. All 22 newly reported cases may not yet be confirmed caused by the Norovirus.
You will also notice in the table that the reporting network includes only a limited number of U.S. states.
The NoroSTAT network includes Alabama, Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
This means that the viral threat may or may not be present in other states that have not reported to the NoroSTAT network.
While the December report number does fall in the upper percentile of NoroSTAT reports, it is not currently at an all-time high, which was reported in February of 2024, and had been on a downward trend for reporting states until late last year and was nearly eradicated in early 2024.
While the health and safety of the public are of the highest concern, proper knowledge and analysis are essential to understanding how to protect the nation best. The ongoing NoroSTAT network data table can be found HERE.
