If there’s one thing you don’t want to endure, it’s the symptoms of norovirus, a brutal stomach bug that tends to cause relentless diarrhea and vomiting for roughly one to three hellish days. And it may be especially difficult to avoid right now,

“This year seems to be a banner year for norovirus occurring — there’s a lot of cases being reported,” said Dr. Michael Sweat, the director of the Center for Global Health at the Medical University of South Carolina. The virus is typically most prevalent from November to April, he added.

Norovirus cases are surging in the US, the CDC says. Here are the symptoms to look for, plus how long you're contagious for, per an infectious disease doctor.

Surge in Norovirus