If you have a 'stomach flu,' chances are it's actually norovirus: What you should know

If you’ve ever gotten sick from eating something “bad,” you may have had an encounter with norovirus.

Sometimes called a “stomach bug” or “stomach flu” — though it’s not related to the flu — norovirus is the leading cause of foodborne illness in the United States, causing between 19 million and 21 million cases of infectious vomiting and diarrhea each year.

Norovirus outbreaks can affect anyone, anywhere. Earlier this month, for example, acruise trip was cut short after 475 passengers became ill with the infection, which spread more easily due to the confines of the ship.

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