How To Avoid Getting Norovirus

It’s not just a cruise ship illness. Norovirus — the most common cause of gastroenteritis, also known as “stomach flu” — is everywhere. And it can be hard to prevent, says internal medicine physician Marianne Sumego, MD. But there are steps you can take.

How contagious is norovirus?

Simply put, norovirus is super contagious.

“It doesn’t take much for this virus to spread,” Dr. Sumego points out. “Being exposed to even a very small number of particles can cause the illness. And because of that, one sick person can infect a lot of people.”

You come into contact with norovirus through:

• Close contact with a person who has the virus
• Touching a surface that’s contaminated with the virus and then touching your mouth or nose
• Eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water
• Eating or drinking something that has been handled by a person who has the virus

Plus, Dr. Sumego says that it’s a particularly hardy virus.

“It can really stay on surfaces,” she notes. “So, if you have it and don’t fully wash your hands or you’re just not careful enough, you’ll leave it behind on various surfaces for someone else to pick up.”

That’s one of the reasons norovirus is so common in places like cruise ships, schools nursing homes and public places, like restaurants.

7 tips to prevent norovirus

Despite how contagious norovirus is, there are things you can do to try to avoid getting sick.

1. Wash your hands. Frequent hand-washing is perhaps the best way to prevent norovirus. Work up a good lather with soap, and wash for at least 20 seconds.
2. Don’t touch your face. If you’ve touched something that’s contaminated with the virus, touching your mouth, nose or eyes before you get a chance to wash your hands makes it easier for the virus to enter your body.
3. Disinfect surfaces. During peak norovirus season, scrub often-touched surfaces like doorknobs and countertops. “With this virus, it’s best to use a bleach solution instead of just soap and water,” Dr. Sumego advises.
4. Practice food safety at home. Norovirus spreads by ingestion. So, wash your hands frequently as you prepare food, especially right before serving anything to others.
5. Keep an eye on restaurant food. If you spot unsanitary food prep practices in the wild (say, employees who aren’t wearing gloves while they make your sandwich), it’s best to find someplace else to eat.
6. Don’t rely on hand sanitizer. Hand sanitizer may also help as an addition to handwashing — but it’s not a substitution. “It isn’t very effective at taking care of norovirus,” Dr. Sumego cautions.
7. Avoid exposure to people with norovirus. Easier said than done, we know. But if possible, steer clear of anyone who’s recently had vomiting or diarrhea. If you’re exposed to someone who’s sick, wash your hands immediately.

Can you completely avoid it?

Germs are elusive little buggers, so even if you do everything right, you may still come down with norovirus. And this illness can’t be treated with antibiotics, so if you catch it, all you can do is wait it out. Here’s what else to focus on:

• Rest. When you’re sick with a stomach bug, your body needs plenty of rest. It gives your immune system time to recharge and recuperate.
• Hydrate. “When you’re dealing with vomiting and diarrhea, the real concern is getting dehydrated,” Dr. Sumego says. “We recommend electrolyte replacement solutions that will help get your body back in balance.”
• Eat a bland diet. Once you’re able to keep food down, turn to soft, mild foods that are gentle on your stomach. The BRAT diet and other bland foods can help you make it through the first day or two of the illness.
• Avoid anti-diarrheal medications. It might be tempting to take a pill that promises to plug you back up. But Dr. Sumego advises against it. “It’s best to let the illness run its course,” she says. “When it does, you actually get over it quicker.”
• Watch for worsening symptoms. Norovirus usually passes on its own, but if you’re experiencing bloody diarrhea, a high fever or signs of dehydration, reach out to a healthcare provider.

Remember: Norovirus is hardy. It can hang around on surfaces for days or even weeks. Once you’re feeling up to it, clean your home thoroughly, from your bathroom and bedding to your kitchen and keyboard — and don’t forget those light switches and doorknobs.

Once you’re feeling better, it’s still smart to be careful for the next few days.

“As long as you’re not having symptoms anymore, you’re much less contagious,” Dr. Sumego says. “But you can keep shedding the virus for a couple days, even after you feel better. So, even when you’re feeling better, continue to be mindful about what you touch.”