Norovirus Cases Surge Ahead of Holidays,โข CDC Warns
Published November 27, 2025 – As the holiday season approaches, health officials โareโ soundingโ the alarm about a significant increase in norovirus cases across the country.โ The highly contagiousโฃ virus, known for causing โvomiting and diarrhea, โis spreading โฃrapidly, posing a threat to festive gatherings.
Norovirusโ is a major concern โfor those who haveโ contracted the virus. Symptoms of dehydration,a common complication,include urinatingโฃ less frequently or havingโ dark-coloredโ urine,dry โฃmouth,weakness,dizziness,and headache.
Individuals infected with norovirus โฃtypically experienceโ symptoms โsuddenly. Children may exhibit fussiness, excessive sleepiness, and cry without โtears. Symptoms generally appear 12 to 48 hoursโฃ after exposure and last one to three days.
While some individuals may experience unpleasant symptoms, โขothersโข can be asymptomatic yet still contagious, capable of spreadingโฃ the virus to others. Theโฃ Centersโค for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that children younger than 5, older adults,โฃ and people with weakened immune โขsystems are at higherโฃ risk of developing severe infections.
How Norovirus Spreads
Norovirus is โeasilyโ transmitted through close contact with infected individuals (evenโฃ those without symptoms), by touching contaminated surfaces and then touching the mouth or โnose, and most commonly,โค by โฃconsuming contaminatedโ food or beverages.
The virus is notoriously arduous โฃto kill,resisting both hot and cold temperatures and many โcommon disinfectants. It can easily spread when an infected person, or someoneโฃ who has touched contaminated surfaces, handles food being prepared or served.
Protecting Your Holiday
Health officials emphasize the importance of diligent handwashing, โespecially for those preparing holiday meals.”Wash your hands โขwith hot, soapy water โฃfor at โleast 20 seconds and do it often,” officials advise. “Wash them before and after eating, before and after handling food andโ after using the bathroom.”
Beyond hand hygiene, general food safety practices are crucial. food shouldโฃ be cooked thoroughly to the designated internal โtemperature (at least 145 degrees Fahrenheit is โa general guideline). โFrequently โคtouched surfacesโฃ and objects, particularlyโ those in contact with food, should be cleaned and sanitized regularly. Fruits and vegetables should be washed โฃbefore serving or consumption.
The CDC โrecommendsโ that anyoneโข feeling sick shouldโ refrain โfrom attending family gatherings โfor atโข least two days after symptoms have subsided. During this time,individuals should avoid close contact with others,refrain from handling food,wash their hands frequently,and thoroughly clean up any bathroom messes.
