DENVER (KDVR) -- The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is seeing an increase in the number of reported norovirus outbreaks this year.
Norovirus is a hearty stomach bug and highly contagious. Patients complain of vomiting, nausea, diarrhea and stomach pain.
Rachel Jervis, an epidemiologist with the state health department, said that from Sept. 1 through Dec. 20 there were 157 reported outbreaks in the state.
"If you compare that to the range in the past five years, it ranged from 5 to 114 during that time period, so definitely more than we usually see," Jervis said.
The sickness can last for a few days and there are no real treatments, although it's important to stay hydrated. Denver resident Theo Ash had norovirus earlier this year.
"It hit very suddenly in the middle of the night. I had to go throw up," he said. "It would just keep coming back, and coming back, and coming back, and I couldn't hold anything down."
Ash said it was a tough couple of days and spread quickly.
"It did rip through a group of us. I got it from my girlfriend, who got it from people at work," he said.
Dr. Mark Montano, with CareNow Urgent Care, said most people will recover just fine at home if they stay hydrated.
"Some people do get dehydrated, and they may need some supplemental hydration, meaning an IV," he said.
With people gathering for the holidays, the risk of transmission is increased, and Montano said the best thing people can do is wash their hands.
"We really want to isolate this bug and not spread it to all of our family who is visiting," he said.
Unfortunately, hand sanitizers do not kill the norovirus. So, doctors say it's important to wash with warm water and soap, especially after a trip to the restroom.