A stomach virus, especially norovirus, can linger in a house for days to weeks because the virus is tough and survives on surfaces, with infectious particles potentially remaining for up to two weeks or even longer, requiring thorough disinfection with bleach solutions to eliminate. While symptoms usually resolve in a few days, shedding of the virus can continue for up to two weeks or more after feeling better, meaning continued vigilance is crucial to prevent spread.
But “getting norovirus off of surfaces is tricky because it is resistant to most disinfectants and hand sanitizers,” Dr. Bisgrove said. In fact, norovirus “can stay on food, countertops and serving utensils for up to two weeks, even at freezing temperatures and until heated to above 140º F.”
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.
Norovirus can survive on surfaces for days or weeks, this is one of the key reasons why the virus spreads so easily through communities. It is important to properly clean and disinfect contaminated surfaces using a bleach-based solution (chlorine), wearing disposable gloves where possible.
Washing your hands often with soap and water is the best way to stop the spread of these viruses to others. Hand-washing works much better than alcohol-based hand sanitizer for norovirus. To help keep others from getting sick, disinfect contaminated surfaces right after someone vomits or has diarrhea.
In a plastic bucket, mix 5 to 25 tablespoons of household bleach in a gallon of water. This solution is great at killing norovirus, but becomes less potent if it is exposed to a lot of organic matter (such as vomit or stool).
Contact with infected persons and contaminated environments are believed to be the main routes of transmission. However, noroviruses have recently been found in aerosols and airborne transmission has been suggested.
Norovirus can survive for weeks on surfaces and objects, such as countertops, doorknobs, phones, and furniture, or any items that may have been in contact with vomit, diarrhea, or unwashed hands of someone sick with norovirus.
Signs and symptoms of norovirus infection may start suddenly and include:
Stomach flu and stomach bug are informal terms for viral gastroenteritis, a sickness in which a viral infection causes inflammation in the stomach and intestines.
The item most frequently used to clean dishes and countertops was actually the germiest place found in most homes. Sponges and dish rags can pick up bacteria during the cleaning process, and, if not properly sanitized between uses, can be a prime spot for germ growth.
The 20-minute cleaning rule (also known as the 20/10 rule) is a simple, time-boxed method to tackle household chores by cleaning with focused intensity for 20 minutes and then taking a 10-minute break, repeating as needed to prevent burnout and keep messes from piling up. It breaks large tasks into manageable sprints, making cleaning less overwhelming by focusing on progress over perfection through short, frequent sessions rather than marathon cleaning days, often tied to the FlyLady system or similar organizing principles.
Norovirus is highly contagious and lingers on surfaces for days or even weeks, using tabletops, door handles and other high-contact touchpoints to spread among people in households, schools and other crowded settings.
The virus can live on hard or soft surfaces for about two weeks; in still water it can live months or possibly years.
To disinfect, use a chlorine bleach solution with a concentration of 1,000 to 5,000 ppm (5 to 25 tablespoons of household bleach [5% to 8%] per gallon of water) or use an EPA-registered disinfecting product against norovirus.
Norovirus is an extremely contagious virus.
Norovirus can survive on surfaces for up to two weeks.
Norovirus is an extremely contagious stomach bug. It's possible to care for a partner who has norovirus without getting sick yourself. You can get norovirus by touching infected surfaces. Care for your partner by keeping them hydrated and making sure they rest.
To kill norovirus, use bleach-based cleaners for surfaces and thoroughly wash hands with soap and hot water, as alcohol-based sanitizers are less effective; steam cleaning can also work on fabrics, and proper food handling (cooking shellfish, washing produce) prevents spread. Disinfect contaminated surfaces by first cleaning with detergent and hot water, then applying a diluted bleach solution (5-25 tablespoons per gallon of water) and letting it sit for 5 minutes before wiping.
Norovirus is the biggest cause of illness from contaminated food in the U.S. The virus typically spreads when someone who has the virus touches food before serving it to someone else. Sometimes, certain foods, including oysters and other seafood, are naturally contaminated with norovirus.
The health department investigators determined that the combination of inadequate disinfection and aerosolization of viral particles from vacuum cleaning likely contributed to further spread of norovirus throughout the event facility.
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Norovirus illness usually begins 24 - 48 hours after exposure, but can appear as early as 10 hours after exposure. Symptoms usually include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramping. Sometimes people have a low-grade fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, and a general sense of tiredness.
Since these viruses are highly contagious, it is recommended to stay home until all symptoms (including vomiting and diarrhea) have passed. Fortunately, the “stomach bug” symptoms do not usually last more than 48 hours.
You can catch the infection if small particles of vomit or poo from an infected person get into your mouth, such as through: close contact with someone with gastroenteritis – they may breathe out small particles of vomit. touching contaminated surfaces or objects.
To avoid gastro when a family member is sick, practice strict hand hygiene (soap/water for 20+ secs), disinfect contaminated surfaces and items (gloves/mask helpful), avoid sharing utensils/towels, keep the sick person isolated, and stay home for 48 hours after symptoms end to prevent spread. Focus on thorough cleaning of toilets, door handles, and toys, and wash clothes/bedding in hot water.