NEW YORK (January 24, 2013)—Federal health officials say a new strain of stomach bug that's sweeping the globe is taking over in the U.S.

In the last four months, more than 140 outbreaks in the U.S. have been caused by the new Sydney strain of norovirus, a contagious bug that causes bouts of diarrhea and vomiting.

The new strain may not be unusually dangerous and some scientists don't think it is, but it is different, and many people might not be able to fight off its gut-wrenching effects.

It often spreads in places like schools, cruise ships and nursing homes.

The new strain was blamed for a recent outbreak on the Queen Mary 2.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on the new strain Thursday.

CDC report: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr