CDC: Noroviruses showing up around the country

ATLANTA - Federal officials say Norovirus, the category of viruses that caused thousands of cruise ship passengers to fall ill last year, appears to be on the rise in the United States. <br> <br> The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that about 41 percent of 27 outbreak samples of norovirus -- which includes Norwalk and Norwalk-like viruses -- tested last year were from the same strain. <br> <br> The viruses can cause diarrhea, stomach pain and vomiting for 24 to 48 hours. They are spread through food and water and close contact with infected people or things they have touched. <br> <br> Norovirus kept health officials on land -- and at sea -- busy last year. There are an estimated 23 million cases of the viruses yearly, and health officials believe they saw more cases than usual last year. But the exact severity of the increase isn&#39;t known because the disease is not tracked regularly. <br> <br> The CDC documented case studies of multiple outbreaks in institutions such as hospitals and nursing homes in Washington, New Hampshire and New York City.

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