New Strain of Norovirus 'Stomach Flu' On the Rise
Malden health officials weigh in on a new norovirus strain - first detected in Australia - that has found its way to American soil.
Although the flu is on everyone’s minds this season, the winter vomiting bug, or the norovirus, is making its rounds. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that the norovirus causes about 70,000 hospitalizations and 800 deaths each year, mostly in young children and the elderly. Some of the virus' common symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach pains. The CDC points out that the norovirus is often referred to as the stomach flu. The best defense? A thorough washing of hands never hurts, Malden Public Health Nurse Maria Tamagna said. "One should always wash their hands: before eating, after going to the bathroom, after changing a diaper, before preparing food," she said. "Anytime you think it has …
