Norovirus cases are rising in Canada. Here's advice from a doctor

Canadian health officials are reporting a rising number of cases of the highly contagious norovirus disease in Canada, warning that the elderly and young children are most at risk.

Canadian health officials are reporting a rising number of cases of the highly contagious norovirus disease in Canada, warning that the elderly and young children are most at risk.

Dr. Zain Chagla, infectious diseases specialist with St. Joseph's Healthcare in Hamilton, Ont., says he's currently seeing more cases of the "winter vomiting disease."

"This is probably post-pandemic patterns that are just normalizing and (we're) seeing across Canada and even the United States," Chagla said in an interview with CTV Your Morning on Monday. "But this is the time we expect it."

Norovirus is a common gastrointestinal illness that occurs more often during the winter and early spring when people spend more time inside together, according to the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC).

Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pains and nausea, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC).

The disease normally spreads when people come in close contact with affected individuals or contaminated surfaces, it said.

People typically have symptoms lasting from 24 to 72 hours, according to the BCCDC.