Nasty Stomach Bug Spreading Like Wildfire in Missouri Right Now

A stomach bug that affects more than 21 million people every year is spreading like wildfire in Missouri right now with the highest report of cases in years.

Get our free mobile app

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services is spreading the word on a virus that is wreaking havoc across the state and much of America right now. The CDC has just shared the data about cases of Norovirus in the Midwest and it shows one of the largest spikes in recent memory.

Norovirus is a vicious stomach bug that can be spread via surfaces for weeks and is easily transmitted from sick individuals. Here's the 3-week average showing the big spike beginning last summer into the first few weeks of 2024.

How do you know if you're sick with Norovirus?

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services says "common symptoms include vomiting (explosive and projectile), watery diarrhea that is not bloody and cramps."

If you believe you're sick with Norovirus, it's important to stay hydrated and seek the help of a doctor if symptoms become severe and/or if you're in a vulnerable group such as the elderly, the very young or those with compromised immune systems.

There is no known antibiotic or vaccine that can treat or prevent Norovirus as of this writing. It's just a nasty stomach bug that seems to be thriving in the late winter weeks.

Check out the state of Missouri Norovirus website for more information and updates to this new spike of cases in Missouri and the Midwest in general.