Norovirus: Symptoms, How Long It Lasts and How to Stop It Spreading at Home
Written by Cherlie Joseph, MSN, FNP-BC · Medically reviewed by Naurah Gaspard, DNP, FNP-C, FNP-BC · Updated November 2026
Norovirus is a very contagious virus that causes sudden vomiting, diarrhea, nausea and stomach cramps, usually starting 12 to 48 hours after exposure and lasting 1 to 3 days. You are most contagious while sick and for the first few days after you feel better. Handwashing with soap and water and cleaning with a bleach solution are the best ways to stop it spreading.
In this guide
Norovirus symptoms
Norovirus is the most common cause of vomiting and diarrhea illness in the US, and cases rise from about November through April. Symptoms often hit suddenly:
- Vomiting, sometimes forceful
- Watery diarrhea
- Nausea and stomach cramps
- Less often: low fever, chills, headache and body aches
Most healthy adults feel better within 1 to 3 days. The main risk is dehydration, especially for older adults, pregnant women and people with chronic illnesses.
How it spreads and how long you are contagious
Norovirus spreads through tiny particles of stool or vomit. You can catch it by:
- Close contact with someone who is sick, like caring for them or sharing utensils
- Eating food or drinking liquids that were contaminated, often by a sick food handler
- Touching contaminated surfaces and then your mouth
It takes only a very small amount of virus to make someone sick. According to the CDC, you are most contagious while you have symptoms and during the first few days after you recover, and the virus can stay in your stool for two weeks or more. That is why careful handwashing matters even after you feel well. You can also get norovirus more than once, because there are many types and immunity does not last.
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Antibiotics do not work on norovirus because it is a virus, and there is no approved vaccine or antiviral yet. Treatment is supportive:
- Rehydrate with small, frequent sips of an oral rehydration solution or broth.
- Eat easy foods once vomiting slows, then return to your normal diet.
- Rest and avoid alcohol and very sugary drinks.
- Ask about anti-nausea medicine if vomiting keeps you from drinking. A provider can review whether a prescription like ondansetron is safe for you.
How to stop norovirus spreading at home
Norovirus is tough. Here is what the CDC recommends:
- Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the bathroom and before eating or making food. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer does not work well against norovirus, so do not rely on it alone.
- Clean with bleach. After vomiting or diarrhea, clean and disinfect surfaces with a chlorine bleach solution (CDC suggests 5 to 25 tablespoons of household bleach per gallon of water) or a product registered by the EPA as effective against norovirus. Wear gloves.
- Wash laundry that may be soiled with the longest cycle and hottest water setting, then machine dry.
- Do not prepare food for others while sick and for at least 2 days after symptoms stop.
- Stay home from work or school until at least 48 hours after symptoms end if you handle food, work in health care or care for others.
When to get help
Most people ride it out at home. Get medical advice if you cannot keep fluids down, are urinating much less, feel dizzy when standing, or if symptoms last more than 3 days. A same-day online visit can help you decide on next steps and whether anti-nausea medicine is appropriate.
Get in-person care or call 911 if you have:
- Vomiting so often you cannot keep any liquids down for more than a day
- Bloody or black, tarry stool, or vomit that looks bloody or like coffee grounds
- Fever over 102°F, or diarrhea lasting more than 3 days
- Severe or constant belly pain, especially on the lower right side
- Signs of serious dehydration: very little or no urine, dizziness when standing, confusion or a racing heart
- You are pregnant, over 65, have diabetes, kidney disease or a weakened immune system and symptoms are getting worse
Frequently asked questions
How long is norovirus contagious?
You are most contagious while you have symptoms and for the first few days after. The virus can stay in stool for two weeks or more, so keep washing hands well and avoid cooking for others for at least 2 days after recovery.
Does hand sanitizer kill norovirus?
Alcohol-based hand sanitizer does not work well against norovirus. Washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds is much better.
Can you get norovirus twice?
Yes. There are many types of norovirus and protection after an infection does not last, so you can get sick again, even in the same season.
Sources
Keep reading
- Food poisoning vs stomach flu
- What to eat with a stomach bug
- Ondansetron (Zofran) for nausea and vomiting
- How long is the flu contagious?
- Browse all conditions and treatments A to Z
Sick to your stomach and need a plan?
$79 visit, no appointment needed. Adults 18+ in FL, NM, OR and WA.
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Cherlie Joseph, MSN, FNP-BC
Board-certified family nurse practitioner licensed in Florida, caring for adults online at OurTopClinic. Meet our providers.
This article is for general education and is not a substitute for medical advice. Treatment, including any prescription, is decided by a licensed provider after reviewing your health history. OurTopClinic is not for emergencies; if you have a medical emergency, call 911. OurTopClinic serves adults located in Florida, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington. Learn more at ourtopclinic.com.
