This year has been a massive one for norovirus, unfortunately. Noro’s at its highest in decades, and for months, there has been a test positivity rate hovering around 20%, meaning about one in five people going to the hospital or urgent care for vomiting or diarrhea are actually testing positive for noro. In the past, norovirus test positivity rates would top out at about 12-15% at the peak, but this year, rates have been higher than that since way back in early December. The reason it’s so high is likely due to a new strain of norovirus, GII.17[P17], which accounts for the majority of noro outbreaks this season. This new strain is just more transmissible, in part because fewer people have been exposed to, and therefore have immunity to, this new version of the virus. The good news is that norovirus season typically winds down by the end of April, so we’re hopeful that we’ll start to see cases drop in the next few weeks.
It can be tricky to find your own vaccination records, but with measles, there’s some good news. Measles vaccines have been around since the 60s. All 50 states require measles vaccination for childcare or school and have for many years. So you most likely got the measles or MMR vaccine as a child unless you are over 65, come from a family that likely didn’t participate in routine childhood vaccinations for religious or personal objections, or you grew up outside the U.S. Even for those over 65, it’s likely that you got the measles shot at some point in your life. If you’re not sure, start by looking for any childhood documents or ask your doctor, parents, or caregivers. Check with previous institutions like high school, college, or military. Some states have registries, though they may not cover vaccines from many years ago. There’s a blood test that a doctor can do to see if you’re immune, but it can cost money and require multiple visits. There’s no harm in getting an extra dose of the MMR vaccine if you aren’t sure, so talk to your doctor, and they may recommend you get vaccinated now. Measles is extremely contagious, and as cases rise in at least 10 states right now, it’s a great idea to check that you’re protected.
Sources: Immunize.org, CDC
Back in 2019, two communities in New York state had the worst measles outbreaks in decades. This article looks into the large, rapid and sustained response that it took to prevent them from spilling into a major epidemic six years ago.