A new stomach bug is making its way around the nation, and its one you'll want to avoid. Since September alone, over 140 cases of what is being called the "GII 4 Sydney" norovirus have been reported according to a report by CBS News.
The new strain may not be entirely dangerous, but some experts feel it could be. Many people have not been able to fight it off like they would a common stomach virus, and the side-effects have been called "gut-wrenching" to deal with.
"It can sweep through an environment very, very quickly," said Ian Goodfellow, a researcher at England's University of Cambridge. "You can be feeling quite fine one minute and within several hours suffer continuous vomiting and diarrhea."
Norovirus, once known as the Norwalk virus, can be riskier for young children and it is easily transmittable according to Associated Press. Others who need to avoid the virus include those with other medical conditions and the elderly.
The norovirus has been spread in locations like cruise ships, nursing homes, and educational facilities. Side effects can include, but are not limited to excessive vomiting and diarrhea.
The illness isn't just occurring in the U.S. however, as people in Japan, Western Europe, and other areas around the world. The first case was discovered last year in Australia which was called the Sydney strain according to CBS News.
"The new strain spread rapidly across the United States from September to December 2012," Dr. Aron Hall an epidemiologist at the CDC's Division of Viral Diseases, said in a statement. "The proportion of reported outbreaks caused by this strain increased dramatically from 19 percent in September to 58 percent in December."
The norovirus is also commonly caused by food poisoning in the U.S. The disease is usually spread by infected food handlers who don't wash their hands after using the bathroom. Unlike salmonella and other food illness, norovirus can spread in the air through the smallest droplet when a sick person vomits according to the Associated Press.
Each year according to the Associated Press, an estimated 21 million illness and 800 deaths are caused by the norovirus world-wide.
The illness even got the attention of comedian Stephen Colbert, who this week tweeted: "Remember, if you're in public and have the winter vomiting bug, be polite and vomit into your elbow."
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