This Nasty Stomach Bug is Spreading Fast in El Paso, TX

El Paso, TX locals are on high alert as a nasty stomach bug is spreading like wildfire, according to local health officials.

If you’ve ever been hit with the dreaded stomach flu, aka norovirus, you know it’s no joke. One minute you’re fine, and the next—well, let’s just say you and the bathroom become besties real quick. (grosssssssss)

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Dr. Armando Meza, chief of infectious diseases at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso, told ABC-7 that norovirus is a tricky little menace. Why? Because it laughs in the face of hand sanitizer. Yep, the usual go-to germ fighter won’t cut it.

Norovirus spreads through contaminated food, surfaces, and person-to-person contact. “When a patient is sick, they can be throwing up or have diarrhea, and those secretions are contaminated with the virus,” Dr. Meza explains. Translation: It’s highly contagious, especially in households.

So, how do you avoid this nasty bug? 

Well, it’s pretty simple but some of us still manage to fail to do this one simple thing: Wash. Your. Hands. With. Soap. And. Water. No shortcuts!

Symptoms hit fast—sometimes within hours!

The bad news? There’s no magic cure. You just have to ride it out, stay hydrated with electrolytes, and stick to easy-on-the-stomach foods like crackers and broth.

If symptoms last more than two days or you can’t keep fluids down, get medical help ASAP. And remember: this virus clings to surfaces for days, so disinfect everything with bleach-based cleaners.