New Strain of Norovirus Implicated in Stomach Flu Cases in US

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that a new strain of norovirus reaching the American shores from Australia was responsible for more than half of “stomach flu” cases in the USA over the last month. According to the figures, the new strain was found to be the cause of over 58 percent of outbreaks of norovirus in the country over the last month.

While it is not yet clear whether the new strain was more potent or whether it was more easily spread, CDC’s Aron Hall said that every time a population is exposed to a new strain, then it is accompanied by an increase in the disease as people are more susceptible to it.

“We see new strains emerge every few years and sometimes they are associated with increased disease activity. We certainly want people to be aware that this potential exists, but the mainstays of norovirus prevention are still the most important things people can do to protect themselves”, Hall said.

Source-Medindia