New Strain of Norovirus Spreading Quickly in U.S.

By Salynn Boyles
WebMD Health News

 Jan. 24, 2013 — The flu is not the only highly contagious disease raging this winter.

A new strain of norovirus is causing intestinal illness outbreaks across the country, the CDC confirmed today.

Norovirus is often to blame when large numbers of people get sick on cruise ships or in schools, nursing homes, and other places where people live, work, or play in close quarters.

CDC officials also reported a rise in outbreaks of sickness caused by drinking raw milk.

The findings appear in the Jan. 25 issue of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

New Norovirus Spread Quickly

The new norovirus strain was first identified in . . . to continue click here

More U.S. Adults Need Vaccines for Pneumonia, Tetanus, Diphtheria, Hepatitis, Shingles & Whooping Cough

Jan 29 (Reuters) – The flu isn’t the only illness adults should be immunized against, U.S. health officials said on Tuesday, as a new study found current adult vaccination rates in the country “unacceptably low.”

The report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) concluded that a “substantial increase” in adult vaccinations is needed to prevent diseases including pneumonia, tetanus, diphtheria, hepatitis, shingles and whooping cough.

“Far too few adults are getting vaccinated against these important diseases, and we need to do more,” said Dr. Howard Koh, an assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

In 2011, there were 37,000 cases of . . . to finish the article click here.