A highly-contagious stomach virus is sweeping the Olympics, with 261 confirmed cases — and two skiers have now gotten it

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February 8, 2018 10:02 PM

The virus is a leading cause of diarrhea worldwide, and the bug is quickly spreading around Pyeongchang. Here's how to avoid getting infected with norovirus.

At least 261 people at the
The stomach bug spreads easily, especially in cramped environments, like cruise ships, daycare centers, and athletic events.
Most people who catch it can recover in a few days without seeing a doctor, but the virus can be deadly — it kills hundreds of people every year in the US alone.

The International Olympic Committee said the skiers were not staying at the village where most other athletes lodge, Reuters reported.

As of Friday, officials in South Korea have documented 261 confirmed cases. Of those, 44 people are quarantined and 217 have returned to normal health.

According to theCDC,norovirus causes 19 to 21 million illnesses in the US every year, and 570-800 of those people die. So if you're reading this from Pyeongchang, it's probably not a bad idea to go wash your hands.

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