Social media users claim migrants behind norovirus spike

Outraged Americans are blasting migrants on social media as a suspected source of a hypervirulent norovirus ripping through the Northeast. 

“Could [the] spread of viruses be connected to Unvetted Illegals immigrants coming across our borders every day?” one Facebook user asked.  

The extremely contagious stomach-bug, which causes terrifying symptoms including violent diarrhea, has torn through the Northeast in recent weeks, where the positivity rates for norovirus is the highest in the nation. 

Nearly 14% of swabs in the Northeast tested positive for norovirus at the beginning of the month, up from just under 11.5% in the middle of January, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

“A highly contagious stomach bug, specifically a norovirus, is rapidly spreading across the Northeast region, (New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia etc),” another Facebook user wrote. “All areas with high concentrations of illegals, who are bringing various types of viruses and diseases into the country.”

Noroviruses, however, have long been leading cause in the United States of acute gastroenteritis, or inflammation of the stomach and intestines, which leads to vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramps, according to the CDC.

Outbreaks occur annually, typically in the cooler winter months, when people are more likely to be indoors and come into contact with one another.

There are 19 million to 21 million stomach bug cases a year, resulting in 465,000 emergency room visits,109,000 hospitalizations, and 900 deaths, the agency’s data shows.

Norovirus is typically contracted by eating or drinking contaminated foods and liquids, touching tainted surfaces and coming into contact with people already infected with the virus. 

The Northeast region saw positivity rates for the virus surge to 16% in March 2022, a month before Texas Gov. Greg Abbott began busing migrants to the Big Apple, and again a year later, CDC data shows.