In a new study, doctors believe they have developed a new vaccine that curbs symptoms of norovirus by at least half, Medical News Today reported.

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), between 19 and 21 million Americans (1 in 15) become infected with the norovirus every year.

Norovirus, also known as the winter vomiting bug, causes severe sickness and diarrhea and is also known to kill as many 800 people per year. The virus usually passes through a patient's system within a few days at the longest.

The total cost incurred by norovirus every year is about $5.5 billion. It is highly contagious can easily be passed along through food, water or any contaminated surface. The virus peaks in January, but is known to last from Nov. to April.

"Norovirus truly is a global issue and most if not everyone has experienced it to some degree," said lead study author Dr. David Bernstein, professor of pediatrics at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and the University of Cincinnati. "The results of our study are promising and our next step is to test this vaccine in a real-world setting."

Medical News Today reported in January about the study researchers developing a vomiting robot in order to test how far germs can travel in an instance of sickness. The study, published in Sept., found that copper surfaces best destroyed the virus' bug.

Because of its high level of transferability and potential severity, norovirus is especially harmful to children and the elderly. In any space in which people remain in close quarters, posing a real threat to nursing homes, child care facilities and even military settings.

Although the study shows promising signs for a vaccine, there is still not a cure for the virus. In the study, 98 people voluntarily drank water containing a significant dose of the virus. Of the 50 who were given the vaccine, 26 became infected and they experienced about a 52 percent reduction in symptoms. Among the 48 who received a placebo injection, 29 became infected.

Said Bernstein: "If the vaccine continues to prove as effective as our initial results indicate, it could be used for specific populations or situations - in those at a higher risk of severe disease such as the elderly or at high risk for infection or transmission such as in day care, people going on a cruise, those in nursing homes or in the military."