Whether you planned to or not, you may have brought home an unwanted present for you and your family from your holiday gatherings. The Centers for Disease Control is reporting a surge in norovirus outbreaks nationwide. The most recent data showed 91 norovirus outbreaks during the first week of December, up from 69 the week before. The numbers could be even higher, but many people do not report the norovirus unless hospitalized. The leading cause of foodborne illnesses in the United States, outbreaks of the "stomach bug" usually occur in places or functions where people are close together and can lead to bouts of vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, stomach pain, body ache, headache, and fever. You could get sick from the norovirus up to two weeks after exposure. Door County Public Health Department Strategist Shauna Blackledge recommends practicing good hygiene habits to potentially ward it off and being prepared to weather the storm.

Blackledge says respiratory diseases like flu, COVID-19, and RSV are also very prevalent this time of year because people spend more time indoors. She has also been paying close attention to the growing number of pertussis, better known as whooping cough, cases in Wisconsin. As of December 28th, there were 2,419 confirmed cases statewide, including at least one in 71 of the 72 counties over the past year. In all four instances, there are vaccines available that can at least lessen the impact of an infection.