This electron microscope image provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows a cluster of norovirus virions. On Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that cases of norovirus, a nasty stomach bug that spreads easily, are climbing in the Northeastern U.S. (Charles D. Humphrey/CDC via AP)

WHEELING — Local wastewater is still showing cases of several respiratory illnesses after a particularly difficult winter season for health care facilities, but the prevalence of norovirus is more concerning, according to a public health official.

Data shared by the Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department shows the amount of norovirus detected in Wheeling’s wastewater is almost three times the amount that it was at this time last year.

“The one that’s the most concerning of the results that we have right now hands down is norovirus,” Ohio County health administrator Howard Gamble said.

Norovirus, which is commonly referred to as the stomach flu because of its gastrointestinal symptoms, typically drops in case numbers after the winter season. However this year, numbers are still high and will take a while to come down, Gamble said.

“It’s good for us to know that because we can then advise schools, daycares, hospitals, the community at large ‘we’re currently seeing cases, take some precautions,'” Gamble said.

“With norovirus, the biggest thing is wash your hands. It’s simplistic but it’s what we have because we can’t vaccinate for it yet.”

While norovirus can be spread through contaminated food, it is most commonly spread by touching surfaces like door knobs, computers, phones or other people’s hands and then transferring those germs to oneself orally.

While there are still higher amounts of influenza A, or the flu, being detected in the waste water than last year, that number is starting to decline.

Gamble explained that the flu is historically a more seasonal illness that decreases during the warmer months in the northern hemisphere, though it spikes at other times in other regions.

COVID-19 is appearing less than at this same time last year, but still poses some concern as it is a relatively new disease and does not seem to follow the same seasonal pattern that the flu does, Gamble said. Rather, it has ebbed and flowed during all seasons of the year, according to the data.

Gamble said the wastewater data also shows a later spike in RSV cases this year, meaning the amount of the virus being found in the city’s wastewater is lingering later into the season than it did last year. This does not necessarily mean that there is more of the disease than last year, though cases are still prevalent.

“It’s still high in the community and what’s interesting is it’s staying in the community,” he said.

These respiratory illnesses can cause secondary symptoms like pneumonia that can lead to hospitalizations, the large numbers of which have been straining healthcare providers and facilities.

Many in the healthcare industry have recently commented on how overwhelmed the system has been this season due to the overlapping presence of these three respiratory illnesses. Gamble echoed this sentiment.

“This year was tough for the healthcare system in the Ohio Valley and I would probably venture to say across the United States,” he said.

One virus that Gamble said he is not concerned about locally right now is H5N1, or the bird flu. While some areas are seeing spikes, “we are not, and that is good news, but we are monitoring it,” he said.

Though the wastewater testing is conducted in Wheeling, Gamble explained that it provides a fairly accurate overview of the status of the presence of diseases across Ohio County.

“We are very, very grateful for the city of Wheeling in helping out with this because, in our county, this testing provides a great snapshot for the entire county and that is because the wastewater that is treated in Wheeling comes from just about all of our municipalities within the county,” he said.