Prostate care 2022, California City, CA (2025)

01/18/2025

Children exposed to higher fluoride levels found to have lower IQs, study reveals -> https://bit.ly/secretinflammation -
The debate about the benefits and risks of fluoride is ongoing, as RFK Jr. — incoming President Trump’s pick for HHS secretary — pushes to remove it from the U.S. water supply.

"Fluoride is an industrial waste associated with arthritis, bone fractures, bone cancer, IQ loss, neurodevelopmental disorders and thyroid disease," RFK wrote in a post on X in November.

A new study published in JAMA Pediatrics on Jan. 6 found another correlation between fluoride exposure and children's IQs.

RFK JR. CALLS FOR REMOVAL OF FLUORIDE FROM DRINKING WATER, SPARKING DEBATE

Study co-author Kyla Taylor, PhD, who is based in North Carolina, noted that fluoridated water has been used "for decades" to reduce dental cavities and improve oral health.

"However, there is concern that pregnant women and children are getting fluoride from many sources, including drinking water, water-added foods and beverages, teas, toothpaste, floss and mouthwash, and that their total fluoride exposure is too high and may affect fetal, infant and child neurodevelopment," she told Fox News Digital.

The new research, led by scientists at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), analyzed 74 epidemiological studies on children's IQ and fluoride exposure.

FEDERAL JUDGE ORDERS EPA FURTHER REGULATE FLUORIDE IN DRINKING WATER DUE TO CONCERNS OVER LOWERED IQ IN KIDS

The studies measured fluoride in drinking water and urine across 10 countries, including Canada, China, Denmark, India, Iran, Mexico, Pakistan, New Zealand, Spain and Taiwan. (None were conducted in the U.S.)

The meta-analysis found a "statistically significant association" between higher fluoride exposure and lower children’s IQ scores, according to Taylor.

"[It showed] that the more fluoride a child is exposed to, the more likely that child’s IQ will be lower than if they were not exposed," she said.

These results were consistent with six previous meta-analyses, all of which reported the same "statistically significant inverse associations" between fluoride exposure and children’s IQs, Taylor emphasized.

The research found that for every 1mg/L increase in urinary fluoride, there was a 1.63-point decrease in IQ.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has established 1.5mg/L as the "upper safe limit" of fluoride in drinking water.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Public Health Service recommends a fluoride concentration of 0.7 mg/L in drinking water.

"There was not enough data to determine if 0.7 mg/L of fluoride exposure in drinking water affected children’s IQs," Taylor noted.

FDA BANS RED FOOD DYE DUE TO POTENTIAL CANCER RISK

Higher levels of the chemical can be found in wells and community water serving nearly three million people in the U.S., the researcher noted.

She encouraged pregnant women and parents of small children to be mindful of their total fluoride intake.

"If their water is fluoridated, they may wish to replace tap water with low-fluoride bottled water, like purified water, and limit exposure from other sources, such as dental products or black tea," she said.

"Parents can use low-fluoride bottled water to mix with powdered infant formula and limit use of fluoridated toothpaste by young children."

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health.

While the research did not intend to address broader public health implications of water fluoridation in the U.S., Taylor suggested that the findings could help inform future research into the impact of fluoride on children’s health.

In response to this study and other previous research, Dr. Ellie Phillips, DDS, an oral health educator based in Austin, Texas, told Fox News Digital that she does not support water fluoridation.

"I join those who vehemently oppose public water fluoridation, and I question why our water supplies are still fluoridated in the 21st century," she wrote in an email.

"There are non-fluoridated cities and countries where the public enjoy high levels of oral health, which in some cases appear better than those that are fluoridated."

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Phillips called the fluoride debate "confusing" even among dentists, as the American Dental Association (ADA) advocates for fluoride use for cavity prevention through water fluoridation, toothpaste and mouthwash — "sometimes in high concentrations."

"[But] biologic (holistic) dentists generally encourage their patients to fear fluoride and avoid its use entirely, even if their teeth are ravaged by tooth decay," she said.

Phillips encouraged the public to consider varying fluoride compounds, the effect of different concentrations and the "extreme difference" between applying fluoride topically and ingesting it.

"Topical fluoride is beneficial, while systemic consumption poses risks," she cautioned.

"Individuals must take charge of their own oral health using natural and informed strategies."

The study received funding from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Intramural Research Program.

01/17/2025

As bird flu spreads, CDC recommends faster 'subtyping' to catch more cases -> https://bit.ly/secretinflammation -
As cases of H5N1, also known as avian flu or bird flu, continue to surface across the U.S., safety precautions are ramping up.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on Thursday its recommendation to test hospitalized influenza A patients more quickly and thoroughly to distinguish between seasonal flu and bird flu.

The accelerated "subtyping" of flu A in hospitalized patients is in response to "sporadic human infections" of avian flu, the CDC wrote in a press release.

ONE STATE LEADS COUNTRY IN HUMAN BIRD FLU WITH NEARLY 40 CONFIRMED CASES

"CDC is recommending a shortened timeline for subtyping all influenza A specimens among hospitalized patients and increasing efforts at clinical laboratories to identify non-seasonal influenza," the agency wrote.

"Clinicians and laboratorians are reminded to test for influenza in patients with suspected influenza and, going forward, to now expedite the subtyping of influenza A-positive specimens from hospitalized patients, particularly those in an intensive care unit (ICU)."

LOUISIANA REPORTS FIRST BIRD FLU-RELATED HUMAN DEATH IN US

The goal is to prevent delays in identifying bird flu infections and promote better patient care, "timely infection control" and case investigation, the agency stated.

These delays are more likely to occur during the flu season due to high patient volumes, according to the CDC.

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health

Health care systems are expected to use tests that identify seasonal influenza A as a subtype – so if a test comes back positive for influenza A but negative for seasonal influenza, that is an indicator that the detected virus might be novel.

"Subtyping is especially important in people who have a history of relevant exposure to wild or domestic animals [that are] infected or possibly infected with avian influenza A (H5N1) viruses," the CDC wrote.

In an HHS media briefing on Thursday, the CDC confirmed that the public risk for avian flu is still low, but is being closely monitored.

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The agency spokesperson clarified that this accelerated testing is not due to bird flu cases being missed, as the CDC noted in its press release that those hospitalized with influenza A "probably have seasonal influenza."

Niels Riedemann, MD, PhD, CEO and founder of InflaRx, a German biotechnology company, said that understanding these subtypes is an "important step" in better preparing for "any potential outbreak of concerning variants."

"It will also be important to foster research and development of therapeutics, including those addressing the patient's inflammatory immune response to these types of viruses – as this has been shown to cause organ injury and death during the COVID pandemic," he told Fox News Digital.

Since 2022, there have been 67 total human cases of bird flu, according to the CDC, with 66 of those occurring in 2024.

The CDC recommends that people avoid direct contact with wild birds or other animals that are suspected to be infected. Those who work closely with animals should also wear the proper personal protective equipment (PPE).

01/17/2025

Surgeon shares story of insurance provider calling during patient's surgery -> https://bit.ly/secretinflammation -
A surgeon in Austin, Texas, was in the middle of surgery when she was notified of a phone call from the patient’s insurance provider.

Dr. Elisabeth Potter is a board-certified plastic surgeon who specializes in reconstruction for women who have had breast cancer. Last year alone, she did about 520 surgeries for cancer patients.

She recently shared a video of herself talking about the experience.

HEALTH CARE COSTS UP TO 300% HIGHER FOR PRIVATELY INSURED PATIENTS THAN THOSE WITH MEDICARE, REPORT REVEALS

"I just performed two bilateral DIEP flap surgeries and two bilateral tissue expander surgeries," she said in the now-viral video.

(In DIEP flap surgery reconstruction, skin, fat and blood vessels from the patient's abdominal area are used to rebuild breasts.)

During one of the DIEP cases, while the patient was asleep on the operating table, the doctor was interrupted by a nurse supervisor informing her that a call had come in from UnitedHealthcare, the patient's insurance company, Potter said.

The nurse who took the call said that Potter was in surgery and not available.

"And they said, I need to get her a message because we need to talk to her about this patient," Potter told Fox News Digital. "So they wrote a note and brought it into the operating room and I took a picture of it, because I'm like, I can't believe this is happening."

HEALTH CARE IS ‘OVERWHELMINGLY COMPLEX’ FOR OLDER ADULTS, EXPERTS SAY: ‘EVER-INCREASING HURDLE’

The note indicated the name and number of the person to call at UnitedHealthcare, along with the patient’s name and Dr. Potter’s name. (The note did not state that the caller had requested an immediate response.)

"The nurse at the front desk of the OR who took the call and wrote this note said that the person on the phone first asked for the patient and then for me," Potter told Fox News Digital.

"He was told I was scrubbed in[to the] OR and he asked the nurse that I be contacted in OR and given the message."

Added Potter, "The nurse manager said she had never in her career received a call like that before. She thought it must be important and brought the message to the OR."

It was odd, Potter said, that the insurance company had called the front desk of the hospital, where she is not an employee.

"They didn't call my office. They didn't call my cell phone. They didn't send me an email. This wasn't the billing department of the hospital."

Afraid that the insurance company might deny the patient’s service, Potter made the decision to scrub out mid-surgery to return the call to United.

BOY FACING BLINDNESS GETS LIFE-CHANGING EYE SURGERY: ‘SUCH A BLESSING’

The surgeon stated to Fox News Digital that UnitedHealthcare did not require her to leave the operating room or threaten to deny coverage.

The patient was safe with another surgeon and the anesthesia team, who were finishing up the procedure.

Potter was "scared" that the patient would wake up and find out that the insurance company said they didn’t have the information they needed and would deny the claim, she said.

"I've seen it before, when people get stuck with bills that are $80,000 or $100,000," she said to Fox News Digital. "And so I said to my partners, ‘I’m going to make this call real quick.’" (See her video here.)

"If it had been at a critical moment during the surgery, I wouldn't have," Potter clarified. "But I made that judgment call and I stand by that — I think it was the right thing to do for the patient."

On the phone, the insurance company stated that they needed to know the patient’s diagnosis and the justification for the inpatient stay, something Potter had already communicated, she said.

WOMAN RECEIVES PIG KIDNEY TRANSPLANT, WALKS OUT OF HOSPITAL DAYS LATER: ‘SECOND CHANCE'

"And I was like, wait a minute, we got authorization for the surgery. We submitted all of our clinical documentation. We've done all the paperwork, the phone calls, all the stuff. You have her diagnosis codes, you have all of it," she went on.

"And they said, 'Actually, I don't, another department has that, but I need this right now,'" Potter said. "There was a sense of entitlement to my time and to the information in that moment," the surgeon added.

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Potter also noted that the person on the line didn’t have access to the patient’s full medical information, despite the procedure already being pre-approved.

"I’m not sure that person even understood that they had an impact on those patients I was operating on," Potter told Fox News Digital. "They were just thinking about money and numbers and were not understanding at all."

"It’s beyond frustrating and, frankly, unacceptable," she told Fox News Digital. "Patients and providers deserve better than this. We should be focused on care, not bureaucracy."

Potter noted that she has always been "devoted" to providing care in-network through insurance.

"Dealing with insurance is a really important part of taking care of patients affected by breast cancer, because the diagnosis is financially devastating," she told Fox News Digital.

"I've found that I really have to engage directly and think about insurance and whether they're covering treatments and what my patients are experiencing."

Potter emphasized that she doesn’t think insurance is "evil," noting that there are some "really good things" about businesses that take care of people.

"But this has developed into something that no longer is devoted to patient care. This is just a machine that's running and making money, and they don't care about me as a provider," she said.

Many physicians have given up and refuse to deal with insurance companies, opting to stay out of network and let the patient pay upfront and deal with getting reimbursed, Potter noted.

"I've gone to Washington, D.C., I have fought to protect access to [breast] reconstruction," she said. "I have testified in the state legislature about these issues."

She added, "It's just getting undoable. And this moment, this week, was like, we've crossed a line — they're actually in the operating room."

HEALTH CARE OR HOUSING? MORE STATES ARE USING MEDICAID FUNDS TO HELP THE HOMELESS

Fox News Digital contacted UnitedHealthcare for comment. The company sent the following statement.

"There are no insurance-related circumstances that would require a physician to step out of surgery and it would create potential safety risks if they were to do so."

It went on, "We did not ask nor would ever expect a physician to interrupt patient care to answer a call and we will be following up with the provider and hospital to understand why these unorthodox actions were taken."

Separately, the head of UnitedHealthcare group said on Thursday that the company is confident it will be able to grow its business in fiscal year 2025.

"The people of UnitedHealthcare remain focused on making high-quality, affordable health care more available to more people while making the health system easier to navigate for patients and providers, positioning us well for growth in 2025," CEO Andrew Witty said in the company's earnings report on Thursday.

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health

His optimism comes shortly after the head of its insurance unit was gunned down in New York City, inciting a heated conversation about the role of the health insurance industry in the United States.

Fox News Digital's Daniella Genovese contributed reporting.

01/16/2025

Cancer death rates decline yet new diagnoses spike for some groups, says report -> https://bit.ly/secretinflammation -
A major annual cancer report has revealed a mix of good news and points of concern.

Cancer diagnoses are expected to exceed two million in 2025, with approximately 618,120 deaths predicted, according to the American Cancer Society’s annual cancer trends report, which was published today in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.

ACS researchers compiled data from central cancer registries and from the National Center for Health Statistics.

ALCOHOL LINKED TO CANCER RISK IN US SURGEON GENERAL'S NEW ADVISORY

While mortality rates have declined, certain groups are seeing a spike in diagnoses, the report noted.

"Continued reductions in cancer mortality because of drops in smoking, better treatment and earlier detection is certainly great news," said lead author Rebecca Siegel, senior scientific director of surveillance research at the ACS in Georgia, in a press release.

"However, this progress is tempered by rising incidences in young and middle-aged women, who are often the family caregivers, and a shifting cancer burden from men to women, harkening back to the early 1900s, when cancer was more common in women."

Cancer death rates dropped 34% between 1991 and 2022, according to the ACS report.

That equates to approximately 4.5 million deaths avoided due to early detection, reductions in smoking, and improvements in treatment, the report stated.

Several factors likely contributed to this decline, noted John D. Carpten, Ph.D., chief scientific officer at City of Hope, a national cancer research and treatment organization in California.

"I think a big one is smoking cessation and the battle against lung cancer, which has always been the most common form of cancer and is tied to to***co use," Carpten told Fox News Digital in an on-camera interview.

LIVER CANCER PATIENT GIVEN 6 MONTHS TO LIVE LOSES 76 POUNDS EATING SPECIFIC FOODS

"But without a doubt, I think new and better methods for early detection, and screening for colorectal cancer and other forms of the disease, have also allowed us to see a decrease."

Lifestyle improvements have also helped to decrease mortality, he said, along with the development of new and better therapies for cancer.

Despite overall declines in mortality, the report revealed that death rates are rising for cancers of the oral cavity, pancreas, uterine corpus and liver (for females).

Some common cancers have also seen an increase in diagnoses, including breast (female), prostate, pancreatic, uterine corpus, melanoma (female), liver (female) and oral cancers associated with the human papillomavirus, the report stated.

Diagnoses for many cancer types are increasing among certain groups.

Cancer rates for women 50 to 64 years of age have surpassed those for men, the report revealed. For women under 50, rates are 82% higher than males in that age group.

As far as what is influencing the "disconcerting trend" in women’s cancers, Carpten said it is likely "highly nuanced" and will require additional research.

"The decrease in fertility and increases in obesity that we’ve seen are risk factors for breast cancer, especially in postmenopausal middle-aged women," he said.

"But there could be other modifiable risk factors at play, like alcohol and physical activity."

Another trend in the increase in early cancers is occurring in individuals under the age of 50, Carpten noted.

In particular, the report revealed that diagnoses of colorectal cancer in men and women under 65 and cervical cancer in women between 30 and 44 years of age has increased.

The report also discusses inequities in cancer rates among certain ethnic groups, with Native American and Black people experiencing higher diagnoses of some cancer types.

"Progress against cancer continues to be hampered by striking, wide static disparities for many racial and ethnic groups," said senior author Dr. Ahmedin Jemal, senior vice president of surveillance and health equity science at the ACS, in the release.

AI DETECTS OVARIAN CANCER BETTER THAN HUMAN EXPERTS IN NEW STUDY

The report shows mixed trends for children, with diagnoses declining in recent years for patients 14 years of age and younger, but rising for adolescents between 15 and 19.

"Mortality rates have dropped by 70% in children and by 63% in adolescents since 1970, largely because of improved treatment for leukemia," the ACS stated in the release.

The ACS report also warns about "lagging progress" against pancreatic cancer, the third-leading cause of cancer death in the U.S.

Rates of diagnoses and deaths from the disease type are on the rise.

"Pancreatic is an incredibly deadly form of cancer," Carpten said.

One of the main issues with pancreatic cancer, he said, is that it sometimes can grow in an individual for up to 10 years before it's detected.

One of the best opportunities for beating pancreatic cancer is early detection, Carpten said.

"By the time those cancers have advanced, they've spread to the liver or other organs, and they’re almost impossible to cure at that stage," he said.

"If we can identify those cancers when they're at a curable stage, we can improve outcomes."

Making progress in fighting cancer "takes a village," Carpten told Fox News Digital.

"It will require partnerships between the community, the health care system, cancer researchers, government, industry — we all have to work together if we want to continue to see a decrease and an ultimate increase in cures," he said.

Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick, interim chief executive officer of the American Cancer Society and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), stated that the report highlights the need to "increase investment in both cancer treatment and care, including equitable screening programs."

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"Screening programs are a critical component of early detection, and expanding access to these services will save countless lives," he said in the release.

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"We also must address these shifts in cancer incidence, mainly among women. A concerted effort between health care providers, policymakers and communities needs to be prioritized to assess where and why mortality rates are rising."

Fox News Digital reached out to the ACS for further comment.

01/16/2025

Nutritionists react to the red food dye ban: 'Took far too long' -> https://bit.ly/secretinflammation -
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has officially announced a ban on red dye No. 3, or erythrosine, from foods and oral medications due to a potential cancer risk.

Food manufacturers have until January 2027 to remove the dye (Red 3) from their products, and drug manufacturers have until January 2028, as reported by the Associated Press.

The dye was removed from cosmetics nearly 35 years ago for the same cancer-related concerns.

FDA BANS RED FOOD DYE DUE TO POTENTIAL CANCER RISK

Following the Wednesday announcement of the new ban, nutritionists and other health experts applauded the removal of the additives from America's food supply.

Los Angeles-based registered dietitian nutritionist Ilana Muhlstein shared her excitement about the FDA "finally" banning the synthetic dye that has been in candy, cereals and strawberry-flavored drinks for "far too long."

"What is wild is that this decision comes over three decades after the same dye was banned in cosmetics like lipstick because there was enough evidence linking it to cancer in animals," she told Fox News Digital.

CALIFORNIA PROPOSES BILL TO BAN SOME FOOD PRODUCTS WHILE NUTRITIONISTS FRET ABOUT ‘GROSS’ INGREDIENTS

"For years, consumer advocacy groups and researchers have pushed for this change, citing not only cancer risks but also potential links to hyperactivity and ADHD in kids."

Certified holistic nutritionist and The Power of Food Education founder Robin DeCicco, based in New York, commented that "it’s about time" Red 3 was banned.

"It never made sense to me why the dye was taken out of lipsticks and blushes 30 years ago but has been allowed to be in our food supply," she reiterated to Fox News Digital. "There has been evidence of the dye causing cancer in rats for decades."

Muhlstein expressed that while the ban is an "obvious win for public health," she still feels "frustrated" that it took so long.

"The FDA became aware of the risks in the 1980s, and other countries, like those in the EU, banned red dye No. 3 years ago," she noted. "Yet big food manufacturers lobbied hard to delay this decision because these artificial dyes are cheap, convenient and profitable."

The dye was commonly used in products that are primarily marketed to children, she noted, such as colorful lollipops, candies and breakfast cereals.

"Our kids deserved better, and it’s frustrating that it took this long for action to be taken," Muhlstein added.

Muhlstein commented that while the ban is a "step forward," it’s also a reminder to "stay informed about what we’re feeding our families."

Red dye No. 3 is included in other products that aren’t so obvious, including some pre-packaged vegan meats, fruit cups, mini muffin snacks, mashed potatoes, yellow rice and sugar-free water flavors, according to experts.

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DeCicco encouraged consumers to always read the ingredient label and to look for natural replacements for these products.

"It’s not about deprivation or restriction – I always say it’s about eating foods with high-quality ingredients," she said. "The ingredients matter more than anything else, and they’re out there."

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health

"I have worked with many families with kids who have ADHD, and removing sugar and artificial food dyes and additives can in some cases lessen symptoms (as one part of treatment)," DeCicco added.

While nutritionists recommend that consumers stay away from foods that contain red dye or erythrosine on the label, there are healthier, natural alternatives to keep food fun.

Muhlstein recommends adding 1 to 2 tablespoons of pomegranate juice to a baking recipe, such as vanilla cake, to give the batter a natural red hue.

She also suggests mixing crushed-up, freeze-dried strawberries into white frosting or whipped cream.

"Beetroot powder, hibiscus powder and even mashed raspberries are great alternatives, too," she added.

Fox News Digital's Melissa Rudy contributed to this report.

01/16/2025

Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo loses flamingo, seal to bird flu -> https://bit.ly/secretinflammation -
The Avian Influenza has claimed the lives of a Harbor Seal and a Chilean Flamingo at Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo.

The zoo announced they received results that confirmed the highly pathogenic Avian Influenza was the cause of Teal, a Chilean Flamingo, and Slater, a Harbor Seal’s death.

"This is sad news for wildlife and for the zoo team. Not only are we facing the first known cases of HPAI in animals in our care, but we’ve lost two amazing animals," said Director of Veterinary Services Lester E. Fisher and Dr. Kathryn Gamble in a statement. "While highly pathogenic avian influenza is a naturally occurring virus in free-ranging waterfowl, more mammal species have been reported to be susceptible to HPAI since 2022."

ONE STATE LEADS COUNTRY IN HUMAN BIRD FLU WITH NEARLY 40 CONFIRMED CASES

The zoo was unable to confirm the source of the exposure, but the Centers for Disease Control say that HPAI is spread through saliva, nasal secretion and the f***s of infected birds.

They did say that zoo visitors are not at risk of contracting the disease from the animals at Lincoln Park zoo.

"Because highly pathogenic avian influenza is spread by free-ranging birds, it is no riskier to visit Lincoln Park Zoo than to enjoy a walk outdoors," said President & CEO and ornithologist Megan Ross. "The zoo remains a safe place to connect with the animals in our care."

BIRD FLU LEADS TO SEVERE HUMAN ILLNESS AND STATE OF EMERGENCY; EXPERTS DISCUSS RISK

The zoo has been monitoring HPAI, so there is a response plan in place. The plan addresses staff and animals. It includes personal protective equipment and removing cross contamination between species while monitoring individual animal behavior, according to a statement by the zoo. They have also closed the McCormick Bird House and will be closed until further notice.

The zoo also said in their statement that it’s important to keep personal pets indoors and away from wildlife.

"Sharing this news of highly pathogenic avian influenza in the area is important for our community at large," said Director of the Urban Wildlife Institute Seth Magle. "To protect yourself, do not handle wildlife. Additionally, keep your pets safe by keeping cats indoors and dogs on a leash away from wildlife."

01/16/2025

Wildfire health impacts, plus FDA bans red food dye -> https://bit.ly/secretinflammation -
Fox News' Health newsletter brings you stories on the latest developments in health care, wellness, diseases, mental health and more.

FAMILY SUPPORT – Experts share the signs that your loved one may be ready for assisted living. Continue reading…

NO SUGARCOATING - A new study reveals the one big factor driving the spike in diabetes cases. Continue reading…

HEALTH HELPERS - Crush your New Year's wellness goals with the help of these picks. Continue reading…

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01/15/2025

Norovirus cases skyrocket across US, here's how to avoid the stomach bug -> https://bit.ly/secretinflammation -
Cases of norovirus, also known as food poisoning or the stomach bug, have picked up steam across the U.S.

The number of suspected or confirmed outbreaks skyrocketed at the end of 2024, with more than 91 norovirus outbreaks reported by state health departments by the first week of December, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Norovirus typically shows up with an onset of uncomfortable symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach pain. In some cases, it can cause fever, headache and body aches.

CASES OF NOROVIRUS OR STOMACH FLU CLIMB STEADILY ACROSS US: ‘THIS IS THE SEASON FOR IT’

Chad D. Neilsen, MPH, director of Infection Prevention and Control at Nemours Children's Health in Florida, shared with Fox News Digital that norovirus is the leading cause of foodborne illnesses in the U.S., causing about 20 million cases each year.

Norovirus is responsible for about 109,000 hospitalizations and 900 deaths each year in the U.S., mostly affecting adults over 65 years old, according to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID).

About one in 15 Americans will get norovirus annually, and one out of 160 children will be hospitalized.

People of any age can be infected and can show symptoms within two days, Neilsen noted.

"Norovirus is extremely contagious, and is usually transmitted between people via close contact, but often via surfaces, utensils or foods that are contaminated with the virus," the doctor warned.

Fox News senior medical contributor Dr. Marc Siegel also weighed in, telling Fox News Digital that norovirus spreads "easily through food and food handling."

"It is wildly contagious and hard to defend against except by frequent handwashing, identifying symptoms early (vomiting, diarrhea, low-grade fever), and isolating yourself if sick," he said.

"There is no treatment except to stay well-hydrated," the doctor added. "[It] generally lasts around 3 days."

IS IT SAFE TO EAT EGGS AMID BIRD FLU OUTBREAKS?

Neilsen agreed that most people will recover from norovirus in one to three days without any treatment, but others could experience more severe symptoms like dehydration, which "could require medical attention."

Symptoms of dehydration include decreased urination, dry mouth and throat, dizziness when standing, crying with few or no tears, and unusual sleepiness or fuzziness, according to the CDC.

If norovirus strikes, the agency recommends drinking plenty of liquids to prevent dehydration and to seek medical care if it becomes severe.

Steps to avoid norovirus are similar to preventing any other foodborne illness, Neilsen shared.

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health

"Wash your hands, thoroughly cook your food at the recommended temperatures, properly clean and disinfect surfaces, and avoid contact with others if sick," he advised.

The CDC also recommends washing fruits and vegetables thoroughly and washing laundry in hot water if possible.

The doctor reiterated how cases in the U.S. have been rising since 2023, but there is no clear research into the reasons why.

Norovirus typically peaks between November and April, according to Neilsen, most likely due to "seasonality trends" that are similar to other contagious viruses thriving during this time, like the flu.

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"The combination of indoor spaces, close contact and crowding is why norovirus thrives in environments like schools, daycares and cruise ships," he said.

"Once an outbreak starts, it’s challenging to control it without public health and sanitation expertise."

Norovirus can be difficult to kill, Neilsen noted. He recommends using bleach to clean contaminated surfaces.

Some people may still be contagious after recovery. Experts recommend proceeding with caution and continuing disinfection routines.

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