Norovirus often peaks during the winter, but Michigan health officials say they're seeing even more of it this year.
Norovirus causes inflammation of the stomach or intestines. Symptoms develop between 12 to 48 hours after one is exposed to the virus.
Michigan's Health and Human Services Department is noticing an increase in the norovirus activity during the peak season—winter time.
"Typically that's seen by visits to the emergency department so we have a surveillance system that tracks people coming into the emergency department for vomiting and diarrhea illnesses," Kent County Health Department Epidemiologist Dr. Brian Hartl said.
Norovirus is active until around March or April which is similar to flu season.
"That's probably the only real similarity between the Norovirus and flu, they're transmitted differently," Dr. Hartl said.
Flu symptoms include coughing, a sore throat, fever, headaches, body aches and fatigue.
"So people who are sneezing, coughing around other people within maybe three feet of each other if you're next to someone who has the flu, you can get that if they're coughing and sneezing around you. It's little droplets that you can get on your hands, and you can touch your eyes, touch your nose, touch your mouth and that's the way that's transmitted," Dr. Hartl said.
Norovirus symptoms are vomiting and diarrhea. Particles from the vomit and feces can be airborne and can land on surfaces.
"That's why we always stress hand washing for both of these infections because these virus particles can land on your hands or you can touch a doorknob or touch a telephone or touch a computer or a bathroom stall with these particles on it," Dr. Hartl said.
If you or a loved one is exhibiting those symptoms, thorough cleaning is just as important to prevent the spread of the infection. The health department says popular cleaning wipes, don't cut it.
"We always recommend getting a bottle of a bleach, using a cap-full of bleach and a bucket full of warm water and using that to clean the surface. Actually disinfecting the surface is what you're doing and letting that sit for a while because there needs to be a long enough contact time on that surface and rinsing it with warm water," Dr. Hartl said.
Norovirus symptoms usually last one to three days, and most people fully recover without medical attention.
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