How long are people contagious? - People infected with norovirus are contagious from the moment they begin feeling ill until at least three days after recovery. Some people may be contagious for as long as two weeks after recovery.
You should: stay off work or school until at least 48 hours after the norovirus symptoms have stopped. avoid visiting anyone in hospital during this time.
Noroviruses are highly contagious. They commonly spread through food or water that is contaminated during preparation or through contaminated surfaces. Noroviruses can also spread through close contact with a person who has norovirus infection.
Stay home when sick and for two days after symptoms stop. Avoid preparing food for others when sick and for two days after symptoms stop.
Having direct contract with another person who is infected with norovirus (i.e. kissing, sharing foods or eating utensils with someone who is infected). People with norovirus are contagious from the moment they begin feeling ill until at least 3 days after recovery.
Norovirus can live on surfaces for up to 4 weeks. It is important to clean regularly. For items or surfaces you touch frequently, clean them every day.
Can I get infected with norovirus more than once? A person can be infected with norovirus more than once. Although there is a short period of time (likely a few months) immediately following infection with Norovirus that a person is protected from reinfection, it is only a temporary protection.
Food, water, or objects that are contaminated with norovirus are placed on surfaces. Tiny drops of vomit from a person with norovirus spray through the air, landing on surfaces or entering another person's mouth.
If a group of people is exposed to a strain of norovirus, who gets sick will depend on each person's blood type. But, if the same group of people is exposed to a different strain of norovirus, different people may be resistant or susceptible.
Anyone can get a norovirus infection, especially if they spend time where many people gather, like at childcare centers and schools and on cruise ships. The virus is in the poop or vomit of infected people.
This infection can be easily spread from person to person through close contact, such as shaking hands or hugging someone who has the virus. It can also be picked up from contaminated objects, including food and drinks.
Infected people usually experience acute onset of vomiting and non-bloody diarrhea. The incubation period is 12–48 hours. Other symptoms include abdominal cramps, nausea, and sometimes a low-grade fever. Illness is generally self-limited, and most patients fully recover in 1–3 days.
If someone in your household vomits or has diarrhea due to a stomach bug, clean and disinfect hard surfaces in the area. Put on rubber or disposable gloves, clean up the area, then disinfect the area using a bleach-based household cleaner. Anyone who is sick should not be in areas where food is being prepared.
Why does stomach flu hit at night? In some people, the stomach flu symptoms may be more pronounced at night due to their circadian rhythm. At night an increase in immune system activity releases infection-fighting chemicals. These can cause inflammation that make you feel worse as you battle your flu.
Norovirus symptoms are usually sudden and harsh. You'll likely be throwing up (vomiting) or having diarrhea for a few days until the infection runs its course. The thought of eating or drinking can be nauseating. But you'll put yourself at risk of dehydration if you don't eat or drink.
CDC recommends using bleach to kill it, including chlorine bleach or hydrogen peroxide. That's why health departments often require restaurants to use bleach to clean countertops and kitchen surfaces. It's also able to survive being dried out.
Once your partner has gone two days without any symptoms, they're pretty much recovered and probably won't spread the virus to others — which means you can recommence with that snuggle session.
Gastroenteritis (gastro) can be caused by many viruses and results in vomiting and diarrhoea. The viruses can easily spread from person to person. It is important to thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water to prevent the spread of gastro.
Unfortunately hand sanitizer can't kill norovirus, the unpleasant and highly contagious stomach bug. Wash your hands. Avoid other people. And let norovirus run its course.
Prevention
All of the viruses that cause the stomach bug are highly contagious. Once one person in a daycare, school or office catches it, it's not unusual to see many others also get sick. If your child is healthy and not sick, the most important thing to do is to keep him/her that way.
Bleach Is Best
The CDC recommends bleach to kill the stomach bug-causing norovirus on surfaces. But if that will damage your counter or you'd rather not use it, look for “phenolic solution” on the label of a concentrated disinfectant. To kill the germs, the EPA suggests you use 2 to 4 times the recommended amount.