As winter settles in, New Yorkers are facing a spike in norovirus cases. Some are also concerned about the bird flu, which the CDC and some virologists have said remains a “low” risk to the general public. So far, there have not been any bird flu cases reported in the tri-state area. However, on Monday, Jan. 6, the first bird flu death was reported in the U.S.
Here’s what your local health systems and experts are saying about these viruses and how to protect yourself.
Norovirus: The winter stomach bug
Norovirus cases are on the rise across the country, and it’s not just the regular seasonal spike. There were 91 suspected or confirmed norovirus outbreaks in early December, according to the CDC. It’s a sharp increase compared to the same period in recent years, including pre-pandemic levels, the New York Times reports. The virus is spreading in New York, according to local health officials.
What is it:
Outbreaks of norovirus, a highly contagious virus causing gastroenteritis, are most common from November to April. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting (especially in children), diarrhea, abdominal pain, and fatigue. These typically last one to three days. Since no antiviral treatment exists, recovery focuses on hydration and relieving symptoms.
How to stop the spread:
Norovirus spreads through contaminated food, water, person-to-person contact, or surfaces. To prevent infection, public health experts recommend practicing good hand hygiene, washing fruits and vegetables, and thoroughly cooking seafood. Avoid raw or undercooked foods and clean contaminated surfaces with bleach-based products, they say.
Dr. Azfar Chak of Montefiore Nyack Hospital advises staying hydrated with water or oral rehydration solutions and avoiding sugary drinks or caffeine. Vulnerable populations, such as children and immunocompromised individuals, carry a higher risk. Infected individuals should stay home for 48 hours after symptoms subside to avoid spreading the virus. Rest is crucial for recovery.
Dr. Jason Zucker, an infectious diseases specialist at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, suggests getting lots of rest and drinking fluids with electrolytes if you have symptoms. He also advises disinfecting surfaces, especially in the bathroom and kitchen, avoiding preparing food for others if you’re sick, and staying home if you’re experiencing symptoms.
Bird flu risk is low for New Yorkers. Here’s what to know
H5N1 bird flu, now nicknamed “moo flu,” began spreading among U.S. dairy cows last year, adding to outbreaks in poultry and wild birds. By late December, there were also 65 mild cases reported among dairy and poultry workers across 10 states (California, Colorado, Iowa, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Oregon, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin).
The U.S. patient who died of bird flu lived in Louisiana. According to published reports, he was over the age of 65 and had pre-existing conditions.
Why it’s a low risk for average New Yorkers:
To be clear, there have been no human cases of H5N1 reported in New York. And no case has been reported to spread from human to human. The vast majority of people who contracted the virus this year were in close contact with infected animals, according to the CDC. Despite the low risk, NYC Health + Hospitals recently conducted a training exercise to test their ability to screen and isolate potential bird flu patients if needed.
So why all the attention?
It’s mostly due to the virus’s unpredictability. The “bird flu” went from primarily affecting birds since it was discovered in the 1990s to recently infecting mammals. Flu viruses like H5N1 that don’t typically infect humans could spark an epidemic if they mutate, especially if they spend time in mammals like cows, STAT News reports.
It could also become better at infecting humans if a host is infected with multiple flu strains and the viruses swap genes and create hybrids. That could hypothetically happen if someone catches both the seasonal flu and H5N1, according to Dr. Marcus R. Pereira, medical director of the Transplant Infectious Diseases Program at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center.
What to do:
There’s no commercially available vaccine against the bird or “moo” flu and no recommendation from the CDC for people to vaccinate against it. However, to prevent the potential for a hybrid strain, experts at NewYork-Presbyterian recommend getting the flu vaccine. For support booking a flu vaccine appointment, find a NYC Health + Hospitals site near you or fill out this vaccine registration request with Epicenter NYC.
Experts also recommend:
- Consuming pasteurized milk and dairy products, as the pasteurization process eliminates harmful pathogens, including the bird flu virus
- Ensuring you’re properly handling and cooking poultry
- Wearing protective equipment if you’re a farm worker or otherwise in contact with dairy cows, other animals, and raw milk.
- If you have pets, health officials in California (the state with the most reported human and cat cases of bird flu) are warning against feeding pets raw food.
- Seeing a doctor if you have symptoms. More here.
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This post has been updated to clarify that there is no recommendation from the CDC that people get vaccinated against the bird flu or commercially available vaccine for it.
