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Stomach flu making people sick across the country

Infection Control Monitor, January 12, 2007

In recent weeks, health officials say they have seen two to three times as many cases of contagious gastroenteritis, commonly known as "stomach flu," than is usual in the winter season. Hundreds of patients have sought treatment in emergency rooms since mid-December, USA Today reported.

The most likely cause of the stomach flu is noroviruses, which are easy to catch and hard to wipe out, the newspaper reported. States with outbreaks of stomach flu include Texas, North Carolina, California, Wisconsin, and Montana.

Stomach flu ruined the December holidays for many people and continues to plague others in the New Year. Last week, San Quentin Prison closed to new prisoners and visitors after almost 500 inmates and guards got sick with vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps, headaches ,and fever, USA Today said. Stomach flu has hit residents and staff in nursing homes in several states and college and pro athletes have missed games because of illness. Hundreds of passengers on two separate cruise ships were also stricken in November and December.

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