Is it possible to avoid norovirus

And it gets worse. A person with norovirus is contagious not just while they're sick, but for several weeks after they stop having symptoms. That means that if they're not being diligent about hand washing as many kids aren't they're still spreading norovirus onto the surfaces they're touching after they use the bathroom.

The same goes for people who have jobs where they prepare food or, you know, parents preparing food for their family, because everyone has to eat.

All that being said, it might sound like resistance is futile once your kid comes down with the bug. But once you understand how the virus operates, avoiding infection is actually a lot more common sense than anything else. One of the most common misconceptions is that viruses can be killed with hand sanitizer. Most alcohol-based hand sanitizers are antibacterial, not antiviral, which means they don't kill viruses. Viruses actually can't be "killed" — which is why often the best defense against norovirus and other viruses is really good hand washing skills.

When you're at the sink and lathering up, you're actually rinsing the virus particles down the sink with the soap. It's the rinsing part that's important, which is why a lot of hand sanitizers on the market don't help when it comes to norovirus. There are a few chemicals that seem to be effective at disarming viruses — including Ebola — and scientists think they may prove helpful in stopping the spread of norovirus, too.

The active ingredient is benzethonium chloride , which is an antimicrobial. You can continue to shed virus in your feces for up to two weeks after recovery. This shedding can last weeks to months if you have an underlying health condition. Some people with norovirus infection show no signs or symptoms. However, they are still contagious and can spread the virus to others. Seek medical attention if you develop diarrhea that doesn't go away within several days.

Also, call your doctor if you have severe vomiting, bloody stools, stomach pain or dehydration. Noroviruses are highly contagious and are shed in the feces of infected humans and animals. You can get norovirus by:. Noroviruses are difficult to kill off because they can withstand hot and cold temperatures and most disinfectants. For most people, norovirus infection usually clears up within a few days and isn't life-threatening. But in some people — especially children, older adults and people with compromised immune systems — norovirus infection can cause dehydration.

Learn about food safety practices that can help prevent these outbreaks. Ways to Prevent Foodborne Norovirus Outbreaks. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link. Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. Preventing Norovirus. Minus Related Pages. You can help protect yourself and others from norovirus by washing your hands thoroughly with soap and water and following other simple prevention tips.

Practice proper hand hygiene Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water especially after using the toilet or changing diapers, always before eating, preparing, or handling food, and before giving yourself or someone else medicine. To get this virus, you basically have to ingest it. That means you should consciously avoid touching your face.

Remember tip No. It is especially important in the kitchen because norovirus spreads by ingestion. As you prepare food, wash your hands frequently — especially right before serving anything to others. Also, if you have symptoms or know you are sick, stay out of the kitchen and avoid spreading the virus to others.

It might take several days for someone who is infected with norovirus to develop symptoms, Dr. Sabella notes.