We’re still learning about this claim
YOU CAN SAY THIS...
This is true but expected during fall and winter months. The most up-to-date number of local cases is usually available on local or state health department websites, and national numbers are reported on the CDC website. Flu, COVID-19, and RSV vaccines are effective for preventing serious illness from these diseases. At-home tests are available for COVID-19 and flu.
WHAT WE KNOW
Flu, COVID-19, and RSV cases are higher than they were in the summer months, but this is a normal seasonal trend for respiratory diseases. Public health experts expect hospitalizations for these three diseases to be lower or similar to last year.
Vaccines can help prevent severe respiratory diseases, and the COVID-19 and Flu vaccines are available at most pharmacies. The CDC recommends everyone 6 months and older get the flu and COVID-19 vaccines with some rare exceptions. RSV vaccines are recommended for adults ages 75 and older, or those 65-74 at an increased risk of disease.
Over the counter medications such as nasal sprays with phenylephrine can help reduce a stuffy nose (congestion), but medications taken by mouth (oral) with phenylephrine are not effective.
If you feel sick or start having symptoms such as fever, chills, fatigue, cough, runny nose, and headache, stay home and away from others for 24 hours or until you no longer have a fever and your other symptoms are improving.
UNKNOWNS
Respiratory disease cases vary locally. Some states get outbreaks at different times than others.
Sometimes respiratory disease case data is not available in real time.
SOURCE
HEARD IT
BELIEVABILITY
HEARD IT FROM
YOU CAN SAY THIS...
This is true but expected during fall and winter months. The most up-to-date number of local cases is usually available on local or state health department websites, and national numbers are reported on the CDC website. Flu, COVID-19, and RSV vaccines are effective for preventing serious illness from these diseases. At-home tests are available for COVID-19 and flu.
WHAT WE KNOW
Flu, COVID-19, and RSV cases are higher than they were in the summer months, but this is a normal seasonal trend for respiratory diseases. Public health experts expect hospitalizations for these three diseases to be lower or similar to last year.
Vaccines can help prevent severe respiratory diseases, and the COVID-19 and Flu vaccines are available at most pharmacies. The CDC recommends everyone 6 months and older get the flu and COVID-19 vaccines with some rare exceptions. RSV vaccines are recommended for adults ages 75 and older, or those 65-74 at an increased risk of disease.
Over the counter medications such as nasal sprays with phenylephrine can help reduce a stuffy nose (congestion), but medications taken by mouth (oral) with phenylephrine are not effective.
If you feel sick or start having symptoms such as fever, chills, fatigue, cough, runny nose, and headache, stay home and away from others for 24 hours or until you no longer have a fever and your other symptoms are improving.
UNKNOWNS
Respiratory disease cases vary locally. Some states get outbreaks at different times than others.
Sometimes respiratory disease case data is not available in real time.
HEARD IT
BELIEVABILITY
HEARD IT FROM
Latest info suggests this claim is true
YOU CAN SAY THIS...
Norovirus cases are higher than usual for this time of year. Norovirus is highly contagious and causes vomiting and diarrhea that lasts 2-3 days. A small amount of the virus is enough to make someone sick. It is spread through contaminated food and surfaces. Public health experts are still learning about the cause of the increase. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers may not kill the virus, so the best prevention is washing hands often with soap and water.
WHAT WE KNOW
A CDC norovirus monitoring program in 14 states shows higher than usual norovirus levels for this time of year. During the first week of the New Year’s holiday, nearly 28% of norovirus tests returned positive, more than double the 13.52% peak positivity rate seen in March 2024.
A CDC norovirus monitoring program in 14 states shows higher than usual norovirus levels for this time of year. During the first week of January, about 28% of tests were positive for norovirus, which was double the 14% test positivity rate seen in March 2024.
Norovirus is highly contagious, and human immunity to norovirus doesn’t last very long – 6 months to 2 years -- after someone gets sick. The virus can have genetic variations every year which makes it more likely people who had it before could get sick again. For these reasons, it is not unusual for norovirus cases to be higher than usual in some years.
People can be contagious with norovirus before they get sick or after they start to feel better. It is important to continue to limit contact with others at least 2 days after symptoms stop to avoid spreading the virus.
People can also get the virus from contaminated food like oysters, shellfish, and leafy greens. To help prevent getting norovirus from contaminated food, cook shellfish and oysters to a temperature of 145 degrees, wash fruits and vegetables, and disinfect surfaces that unwashed produce or raw shellfish have touched.
UNKNOWNS
There is not enough data to tell if the norovirus illnesses are more severe this year, and more data is needed to confirm if a different strain of norovirus is causing the increase in cases.
HEARD IT
BELIEVABILITY
HEARD IT FROM
YOU CAN SAY THIS...
Norovirus cases are higher than usual for this time of year. Norovirus is highly contagious and causes vomiting and diarrhea that lasts 2-3 days. A small amount of the virus is enough to make someone sick. It is spread through contaminated food and surfaces. Public health experts are still learning about the cause of the increase. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers may not kill the virus, so the best prevention is washing hands often with soap and water.
WHAT WE KNOW
A CDC norovirus monitoring program in 14 states shows higher than usual norovirus levels for this time of year. During the first week of the New Year’s holiday, nearly 28% of norovirus tests returned positive, more than double the 13.52% peak positivity rate seen in March 2024.
A CDC norovirus monitoring program in 14 states shows higher than usual norovirus levels for this time of year. During the first week of January, about 28% of tests were positive for norovirus, which was double the 14% test positivity rate seen in March 2024.
Norovirus is highly contagious, and human immunity to norovirus doesn’t last very long – 6 months to 2 years -- after someone gets sick. The virus can have genetic variations every year which makes it more likely people who had it before could get sick again. For these reasons, it is not unusual for norovirus cases to be higher than usual in some years.
People can be contagious with norovirus before they get sick or after they start to feel better. It is important to continue to limit contact with others at least 2 days after symptoms stop to avoid spreading the virus.
People can also get the virus from contaminated food like oysters, shellfish, and leafy greens. To help prevent getting norovirus from contaminated food, cook shellfish and oysters to a temperature of 145 degrees, wash fruits and vegetables, and disinfect surfaces that unwashed produce or raw shellfish have touched.
UNKNOWNS
There is not enough data to tell if the norovirus illnesses are more severe this year, and more data is needed to confirm if a different strain of norovirus is causing the increase in cases.
HEARD IT
BELIEVABILITY
HEARD IT FROM
KNOW
FROM
YOU CAN SAY THIS...
This is true but expected during fall and winter months. The most up-to-date number of local cases is usually available on local or state health department websites, and national numbers are reported on the CDC website. Flu, COVID-19, and RSV vaccines are effective for preventing serious illness from these diseases. At-home tests are available for COVID-19 and flu.
WHAT WE KNOW
Flu, COVID-19, and RSV cases are higher than they were in the summer months, but this is a normal seasonal trend for respiratory diseases. Public health experts expect hospitalizations for these three diseases to be lower or similar to last year.
Vaccines can help prevent severe respiratory diseases, and the COVID-19 and Flu vaccines are available at most pharmacies. The CDC recommends everyone 6 months and older get the flu and COVID-19 vaccines with some rare exceptions. RSV vaccines are recommended for adults ages 75 and older, or those 65-74 at an increased risk of disease.
Over the counter medications such as nasal sprays with phenylephrine can help reduce a stuffy nose (congestion), but medications taken by mouth (oral) with phenylephrine are not effective.
If you feel sick or start having symptoms such as fever, chills, fatigue, cough, runny nose, and headache, stay home and away from others for 24 hours or until you no longer have a fever and your other symptoms are improving.
UNKNOWNS
Respiratory disease cases vary locally. Some states get outbreaks at different times than others.
Sometimes respiratory disease case data is not available in real time.
SOURCES
HEARD IT
heard this concern.
BELIEVABILITY
HEARD IT FROM
KNOW
FROM
YOU CAN SAY THIS...
Norovirus cases are higher than usual for this time of year. Norovirus is highly contagious and causes vomiting and diarrhea that lasts 2-3 days. A small amount of the virus is enough to make someone sick. It is spread through contaminated food and surfaces. Public health experts are still learning about the cause of the increase. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers may not kill the virus, so the best prevention is washing hands often with soap and water.
WHAT WE KNOW
A CDC norovirus monitoring program in 14 states shows higher than usual norovirus levels for this time of year. During the first week of the New Year’s holiday, nearly 28% of norovirus tests returned positive, more than double the 13.52% peak positivity rate seen in March 2024.
A CDC norovirus monitoring program in 14 states shows higher than usual norovirus levels for this time of year. During the first week of January, about 28% of tests were positive for norovirus, which was double the 14% test positivity rate seen in March 2024.
Norovirus is highly contagious, and human immunity to norovirus doesn’t last very long – 6 months to 2 years -- after someone gets sick. The virus can have genetic variations every year which makes it more likely people who had it before could get sick again. For these reasons, it is not unusual for norovirus cases to be higher than usual in some years.
People can be contagious with norovirus before they get sick or after they start to feel better. It is important to continue to limit contact with others at least 2 days after symptoms stop to avoid spreading the virus.
People can also get the virus from contaminated food like oysters, shellfish, and leafy greens. To help prevent getting norovirus from contaminated food, cook shellfish and oysters to a temperature of 145 degrees, wash fruits and vegetables, and disinfect surfaces that unwashed produce or raw shellfish have touched.
UNKNOWNS
There is not enough data to tell if the norovirus illnesses are more severe this year, and more data is needed to confirm if a different strain of norovirus is causing the increase in cases.
SOURCES
HEARD IT
heard this concern.
BELIEVABILITY
HEARD IT FROM
