Outbreaks of the highly-contagious seasonal illness also known as the ''stomach flu'' are at their highest recorded level in more than a decade. The FOX Medical Team's Dr. Mike Cirigliano joined Paul Milliken and Alex Whittler with a look at why the bug is hitting harder this year and what you can do to protect yourself.

Cases of norovirus are surging in the United States. It’s the country’s leading cause of foodborne illnesses but there have been even more outbreaks than usual recently — hitting schools, holiday gatherings and cruise ships.

What's behind the spike in norovirus cases? Cases went down during the pandemic, likely due to better hand hygiene. This spike is likely due to people returning to our old, nasty habits.

Though it is sometimes called the “stomach flu” or the “stomach bug,” norovirus illness is not related to the flu. The flu is caused by the influenza virus, and Staten Island cases of the flu are also rising — faster than cases statewide.