"Most people soldier through several days of terrible stomach issues and recover on their own. Unfortunately, some public health experts said the virus may spread faster this season. That's because a new strain of the virus appeared last year, spurring more outbreaks. This new strain is more contagious, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is probably driving the high transmission rates in some parts of the Bay Area, said Peter Chin-Hong, a UCSF professor of microbiology and immunology."
"Until last year, norovirus hadn't mutated in a major way for about 30 years, Chin-Hong said. That meant that our immune systems were more familiar with the virus and could fight it off more effectively. But last year, a new variety, GII.17, became the most common strain of norovirus in the U.S. That strain is more contagious and drove a spike in norovirus outbreaks nationally last winter, according to CDC data."
Norovirus causes vomiting and diarrhea and circulates from November to April. The virus is less deadly than influenza or COVID-19 but can cause dangerous dehydration in infants and older adults. A new GII.17 strain emerged recently, is more contagious, and has driven increased outbreaks and transmission across the Bay Area. Wastewater testing shows high concentrations in Silicon Valley, San Francisco, and Vallejo. Santa Clara County reported two outbreaks in one season and 16 outbreaks in the following season as the new variant spread. Most infections resolve in several days with supportive care.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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