If you’re unlucky enough to encounter this virus, here’s what you need to know to get through the next few days.

Doctors are clear: The main two symptoms they're seeing the most right now in patients with norovirus are—gross alert— diarrhea and vomiting. “These can hit quickly—usually within a day or two after being exposed—and can leave you feeling wiped out and dehydrated,” says Dr. Raj Dasgupta, MD, chief medical advisor for Garage Gym Reviews.

Outbreaks of the highly contagious "winter vomiting bug" are at their highest recorded level in years in the U.S. Here's how to reduce your chances of catching it.

A surge in norovirus cases might be explained by a new strain of the virus, which now reportedly makes up a majority of outbreaks across the U.S. This winter’s dominant norovirus strain is a newer variant called the G11.

Reported cases of norovirus — a brief, but miserable illness — have generally been rising across the country in recent months, according to national data, but people can help protect themselves by practicing good hygiene.