{"id":832155,"date":"2026-05-30T10:47:38","date_gmt":"2026-05-30T10:47:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/832155\/"},"modified":"2026-05-30T10:47:38","modified_gmt":"2026-05-30T10:47:38","slug":"norovirus-map-shows-where-vomiting-virus-levels-are-high-across-us","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/832155\/","title":{"rendered":"Norovirus Map Shows Where ‘Vomiting Virus’ Levels Are High Across US"},"content":{"rendered":"

A new national wastewater map<\/a> is offering a window into the spread of norovirus<\/a> across the United States, showing where the highly contagious stomach bug, also known as the “vomiting virus<\/a>,” is circulating at elevated levels <\/a>even when many infections go unreported.<\/p>\n

Norovirus is the leading cause of acute gastroenteritis in the United States, triggering sudden vomiting, diarrhea and stomach pain as it spreads easily through contaminated food, surfaces, and close contact. Outbreaks can occur year-round, but the virus follows a clear seasonal pattern, with cases typically rising in late fall and peaking between November and April, when colder weather and increased indoor gatherings aid transmission. While anyone can become infected, the illness disproportionately impacts young children\u2014who account for a large share of medical visits\u2014and older adults, who face a higher risk of severe outcomes, particularly due to dehydration. <\/p>\n

Yet recent wastewater surveillance has shown norovirus levels remaining elevated in parts of the country even as temperatures warm, underscoring how the virus can continue circulating outside its typical winter peak.<\/p>\n

Newsweek reached out to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC<\/a>) by email for comment. <\/p>\n

Norovirus Map: Where ‘Vomiting Virus’ Levels Are High in US<\/p>\n

Data from the WastewaterSCAN monitoring program, which tracks viral activity in sewage samples, <\/a>indicates that norovirus levels remain high nationally, with activity detected across multiple regions. The dashboard classifies current levels as elevated but notes no clear upward or downward trend in the past 21 days, suggesting sustained transmission rather than a sudden spike.<\/p>\n

Wastewater surveillance has become an increasingly important tool for tracking infectious diseases because it captures signals from entire communities, including people who may not seek medical care or testing. Researchers say monitoring sewage can provide early insight into community spread, particularly for illnesses like norovirus that often go underreported. <\/p>\n

The map <\/a>shows clusters of medium to high viral activity across parts of the Midwest and Northeast, with additional detections scattered across other regions. While the data does not measure confirmed case counts, it offers a broader picture of where the virus is actively circulating.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

“Medium” viral activity is detected in the West and the South, according to map. <\/p>\n

What Are Norovirus Symptoms?<\/p>\n

Norovirus infections typically cause:<\/p>\n