Outbreaks of the highly contagious stomach virus are more than double what they were last year at the time, CDC says. Protect yourself by washing hands with soap often — antibacterial gel doesn't work well against the virus.

Outbreaks of the stomach flu are spreading across the U.S and are far higher than average for December over the past 12 years, according to CDC figures.

Norovirus, often referred to as the stomach flu, has been seeing a surge in the United States. The spike in cases mirrors trends in Minnesota, where the state saw double its average December cases, according to local health authorities.