ROCK HILL, Mo. – The dreaded norovirus stomach bug is surging in the United States, and cases are on the rise here in St. Louis. Known for its quick spread and painful symptoms, it’s left many bedridden this winter.

“We’re seeing abdominal pain, mostly vomiting; some diarrhea. They do sometimes run fever. General belly aches, body aches, but typically it’s the vomiting they come in for,” Kathleen Probst, nurse practitioner at Total Access Urgent Care, said.

Rock Hill’s Total Access Urgent Care has seen a rise in norovirus since the start of the holidays.

“It’s actually something we see a lot of time in the wintertime; just because of the fact that everyone’s indoors,” Probst said. “And also, it happens at the same time the holidays are happening. So, we see a lot around this time of year.”

The CDC reports 91 separate norovirus outbreaks nationwide in early December 2024, up sharply from just weeks before. Experts say the virus is so contagious that just 10 viral particles can infect someone.

“One of the things I would recommend is just resting their gut. Basically, what that means is don’t try to eat anything. Ice chips are probably more recommended and easily tolerated than fluids, but if the pain is so much they worry or are concerned, they should definitely come to be seen,” Probst said.

Medical experts say you can protect yourself by washing your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds, disinfecting surfaces, and avoiding sharing food or drinks. And if you are feeling sick, stay home to stop the spread.

Probst said she has seen 50 patients per day in the past week, and 3% had norovirus symptoms.

Symptoms usually hit within 12 to 48 hours of exposure and last about one to three days. While most people recover quickly, dehydration can lead to serious complications, especially for children and older adults.