How to Prevent Norovirus

Key points

• Norovirus is very contagious, but simple steps can stop it from spreading.
• Wash hands well with soap and water; hand sanitizer alone does not work well against norovirus.
• Do not prepare or handle food or care for others while sick, and wait at least 2 days (48 hours) after symptoms stop.
• Cook oysters and other shellfish thoroughly; quick steaming does not kill the virus.
• Clean and disinfect contaminated areas immediately, using a chlorine bleach solution or an EPA-registered product against norovirus.

Overview

This CDC prevention page explains how to avoid catching and spreading norovirus. The virus can be found in vomit or stool even before symptoms start and can remain in stool for 2 weeks or more after recovery, during which time it can still spread.

When sick and hand hygiene

People who are sick should not prepare or handle food or care for others until at least 2 days after symptoms stop, which is especially important for those working in restaurants, schools, daycare, long-term care facilities or similar places. Hands should be washed often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the toilet or changing diapers, before eating, preparing or handling food, and before giving medicine. Hand sanitizer can be used in addition to, but not instead of, handwashing.

Food safety

Wash fruits and vegetables carefully, cook oysters and other shellfish to an internal temperature of at least 145°F, clean and sanitize utensils, boards and surfaces, keep raw oysters away from ready-to-eat food, and throw away food that might contain norovirus. Noroviruses can survive temperatures as high as 145°F, and contaminated food may look, smell and taste normal.

Cleaning and laundry

After vomiting or diarrhoea, wear gloves, wipe the whole area with paper towels and discard them in a plastic bag, then disinfect with a chlorine bleach solution of 1,000 to 5,000 ppm (5 to 25 tablespoons of household bleach of 5% to 8% per gallon of water) or an EPA-registered product, leaving bleach on for at least 5 minutes, and clean again with soap and hot water. Soiled clothes and linens should be removed immediately, handled without shaking, washed with detergent and hot water at the maximum cycle length and machine dried at the highest heat, followed by handwashing.

Frequently asked questions

Does hand sanitizer protect against norovirus?

Not well. CDC advises washing with soap and water; sanitizer can only be used in addition to handwashing.

How long should food workers stay away after norovirus?

They should not prepare or handle food for at least 2 days (48 hours) after symptoms stop.

Source

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Division of Viral Diseases. How to Prevent Norovirus. Last updated January 13, 2025. This summary was prepared by Medpresso from the original publication and is not a substitute for the full text or for medical advice.