That ‘winter vomiting disease’ in KY likely isn’t flu or COVID, but this icky illness
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Norovirus causes gastroenteritis and can spread at 2025 holiday gatherings.
- Infected food handlers and poor hand hygiene drive rapid transmission at events.
- No cure exists; clinicians advise hydration, symptom support and testing when needed.
Along with COVID-19 and the flu, a separate, foodborne illness that triggers episodes of vomiting could be lurking at your holiday gatherings this year.
Called the norovirus, you may hear it referred to as a “stomach bug,” or more sarcastically termed the “winter vomiting disease.” And while it tends to strike during the colder months, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention norovirus is not a flu.
Instead, it causes acute gastroenteritis, or an inflammation of the stomach or intestines.
For help with some of the common questions people have about norovirus, we spoke with Dr. Nicholas Van Sickels, a physician with Lexington’s UK HealthCare who specializes in infectious disease.
What is norovirus?
As explained by Van Sickels, norovirus is a foodborne illness, and it doesn’t take much to make you sick. Typically, it’s spread by contaminated food and improper hand-washing.
A classic example, Van Sickels said, occurs when an infected person prepares food for a group event, such as a holiday party or gathering, and multiple people eat the contaminated food.
“That person, an index person, did not wash their hands carefully,” Van Sickels said.
Even more troubling, people who have norovirus don’t even have to feel sick to spread it.
“You mainly spread it when you’re actively sick, but you can actually spread it after you’ve gotten better for up to one to two weeks,” Van Sickels said.
Not washing your hands properly — at least 20 seconds with soap and water — after going to the bathroom or before you eat contributes to the spread of norovirus.
Additionally, hand sanitizers alone aren’t enough to prevent the spread of norovirus, according to the CDC.
What are the symptoms of norovirus? And how do you treat it?
According to Van Sickels, the most common symptom is vomiting. Watery diarrhea and low-grade fevers can also be common with norovirus.
Most people develop symptoms 12 to 48 hours after exposure, according to the CDC. The vomiting and diarrhea generally runs its course quickly, but a person can remain contagious for up to two weeks after symptoms clear.
There is no current treatment or “cure” for norovirus, though doctors can prescribe medications to help with the excessive vomiting or diarrhea it induces, Van Sickels said.
While most people recover on their own within a few days, dehydration can be a real risk in some cases.
“Hydrate as much as you can, especially if you’re vomiting or having diarrhea,” Van Sickels said. “Not only water, but water with electrolytes.”
You should contact your health care provider if you’re unable to keep any fluids down, Van Sickels said.
Is there a test for norovirus? Can I get it twice in one season?
Yes, there is a test for the norovirus, and it usually requires a stool sample.
Additionally, the tests aren’t commonly administered because by the time people come in for testing, their symptoms have resolved, Van Sickels said.
You can also get norovirus more than once. According to the Cleveland Clinic, there are several types of noroviruses, and getting it once doesn’t give you lifetime immunity.
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