The New York Health Department reported on Thursday that the emergency department reached 500 visits per day in the seasonal stomach flu. The norovirus, which usually is at its peak in winter months, spreads across the entire country and last no more than a few days of illness.

The symptoms for the stomach flu are vomiting, diarrhea, sometime nausea, stomach cramping, fever, chills, aches and tiredness. It is usually not a serious illness, at least nor for an adult. The problems could appear for babies under six months, who will need to drink lots of fluids when ill.

The hospitals have become overcrowded since the virus reappeared. Among them, Columbia University Medical Center in Manhattan, the Lutheran Medical center in Sunset Park, the Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx or the Jamaica Hospital Medical Center in Queens.

Dr. Sharon Balter, Director of Enteric Disease for the Health Department’s Bureau of Communicable Disease said: “The best way to stop the spread of norovirus is to wash our hands regularly with soap and stay home from work or school if you are sick. Norovirus is common at this time of year and is not serious for most people, but it is important to take these steps to keep others from getting sick.”

The stomach virus easily spreads from one person to another when sharing food or utensils with an infected person or touching contaminated surfaces and putting their hands in the mouth afterwards. In order to prevent such an infection, the person should pay more attention to washing their hands as often as possible. In case of infection public or crowded places should be avoided.