Norovirus is the leading cause of vomiting and diarrhea from acute gastroenteritis — inflammation of the stomach and intestines — among people of all ages in the United States. It is also the leading cause of foodborne illness, responsible for 58% of foodborne illnesses acquired in the country.
Each year in the United States
On average, norovirus causes:
| Outcome | Number | Mostly among |
|---|---|---|
| Illnesses | 19–21 million | |
| Outpatient clinic visits | 2,270,000 | young children |
| Emergency department visits | 465,000 | young children |
| Hospitalizations | 109,000 | |
| Deaths | 900 | adults 65 and older |
- Foodborne norovirus illness costs about $2 billion a year, mostly in lost productivity and health care.
- Norovirus accounts for nearly 1 million medical care visits by children each year.
Who is hit hardest
Children under 5 and adults 85 and older are more likely than other ages to need an outpatient or emergency visit. By age 5:
| Chance | Outcome |
|---|---|
| 1 in 7 | goes to an outpatient clinic |
| 1 in 40 | goes to an emergency department |
| 1 in 160 | is hospitalized |
| 1 in 110,000 | dies from norovirus |
U.S. outbreaks
About 2,500 norovirus outbreaks are reported in the United States each year.
- They happen year-round but are most common from November to April.
- In years when a new strain appears, there can be 50% more norovirus illness.
- Most outbreaks spread person to person through direct contact — caring for someone who is sick, or sharing food or eating utensils with them.
Reported norovirus outbreaks by month, 2009–2017: highest from November to April. CDC.
Worldwide
Norovirus causes about 1 in 5 cases of acute gastroenteritis with diarrhea and vomiting around the world. Each year, on average, it causes:
- 685 million cases of acute gastroenteritis;
- 200 million cases in children under 5;
- 50,000 child deaths, mostly in developing countries;
- an estimated $60 billion in health care costs and lost productivity — a burden in low- and high-income countries alike.
Seasons and strains
Norovirus is the leading cause of acute gastroenteritis outbreaks globally. Outbreaks are more common in cooler months: roughly November to April north of the equator and May to September south of it, and less seasonal near the equator.
- Since 2002, GII.4 viruses (genogroup II, genotype 4) have caused most outbreaks worldwide, though other types, such as GII.17 and GII.2, have temporarily displaced GII.4 in several Asian countries.
- From 2002 to 2012, a new GII.4 virus emerged every 2 to 4 years; since 2012, one virus — GII.4 Sydney — has dominated worldwide. New strains often, but not always, bring a global rise in outbreaks.
CDC works with many global partners to measure how much acute gastroenteritis norovirus causes and to prevent outbreaks.
Sources
Based on "Norovirus Facts and Stats," Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; a work of the United States government in the public domain.
Licence: CC0 1.0 (public domain) · Adapted from www.cdc.gov
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