“Commonly known as the stomach flu, norovirus has been around forever, and has become the leading cause of gastroenteritis or inflammation of the intestinal tract that causes vomiting and diarrhea,” says Dr. Edmund Milder, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Rady Children’s Hospital and UC San Diego Health.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Norovirus, also known as the stomach flu, rang in 2025 in a big way across the United States, and continues to surge. The highly contagious virus causes vomiting and diarrhea, and a record number of outbreaks have been reported for this time of year, according to recent data.

Cases of norovirus are surging in the United States. It’s the country’s leading cause of foodborne illnesses but there have been even more outbreaks than usual recently — hitting schools, holiday gatherings and cruise ships.

The Minnesota Department of Health announced Tuesday that norovirus numbers in Minnesota remain "higher than usual" and likely will for some time.