As the holiday season approaches, the highly contagious gastrointestinal virus known as Norovirus is staging a significant return in the United States. According to recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the percentage of stool tests coming back positive for norovirus reached nearly 14 % during the week ending November 15 — a marked increase from about 7 % just three months prior.
The sharp rise in test positivity coincides with escalating outbreak numbers. For the 2024 – 2025 surveillance year, more than 2,675 suspected or confirmed norovirus outbreaks were reported in NoroSTAT-participating states — a figure well above recent seasonal ranges.
While outbreaks are rising broadly, some settings have been hit especially hard. For example, a 13-night voyage on the cruise ship Serenade of the Seas, operated by Royal Caribbean International, saw 94 passengers and 4 crew members fall ill with norovirus.
Experts say the increase follows a shift in circulating strains of norovirus and potentially altered seasonal timing. One strain, GII.17, has emerged as a prominent variant in recent U.S. outbreaks.
Health officials are calling for heightened vigilance. The CDC emphasizes frequent hand-washing with soap and water — since hand sanitizer is less effective — along with thorough surface disinfection, careful food handling and staying home for at least 48 hours after symptoms stop.
Hospitals, restaurants, schools and long-term care facilities are especially vulnerable due to close contact and shared surfaces. As millions travel and gather this holiday season, public health officials warn that the virus’s resurgence could pose a widespread challenge.
For now, preventive measures remain the best protection against another wave of the “winter vomiting bug.”
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