United States: The CDC’s respiratory virus tracker map shows Kentucky red as the state fights more acute respiratory illnesses ranging from COVID-19 to the flu, among many others across the state.
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UK HealthCare’s infectious disease specialist, Dr Nicholas Van Sickels, pointed out that this winter is not the same.
That is because a highly infectious stomach bug known as norovirus has also joined the flu in this deadly virus season. It can be easily transferred from surfaces like your phone, and it is not eliminated by the usual alcohol-based hand rubs, says the CDC.
Warning by the experts
Worse still, there are no direct cures available for norovirus, except a lot of bed rest and lots of fluids that have been infused with electrolytes.
Van Sickels shares that the virus usually lasts just one to three days, but those days are very uncomfortable, kentucky.com reported.
“Plenty of people end up in the emergency department because they get so dehydrated,” explained Van Sickels.
“You’re not able to eat because you’re vomiting,” he added.

At Kentucky Children’s Hospital, pediatricians are also seeing more patients with flu and RSV, the hospital’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Lindsay Ragsdale, said on Friday.
“We’re seeing somewhere between 10 to 20 patients each day at the children’s hospital needing admission. That’s a significant amount,” Ragsdale mentioned.
“Good hand washing, trying to stay home, keeping your kids home when they’re sick and have a fever, and really vaccinations is the best way that we can prevent these infections,” She added.
Data reveals a rapid rise in cases
Data from the Kentucky Department for Public Health show that overall visits for acute respiratory illness – a category that encompasses several illnesses – were highest so far in the latter part of December at 10,413 or 26 percent for emergency department visits. In the week up to January 11, this has since been reduced to 19 percent or 5,716 such visits.
As experts note, norovirus is primarily transmitted through vomit and fecal-oral routes, causing infection in others and spreading through touch on contaminated hands and objects, kentucky.com reported.