Norovirus 2025: Stomach bug myths and facts

Most everyone has experienced the dreaded stomach bug at some point, and cases are surging as 2025 begins. When your child comes home with it from school, it can feel like it’s inevitable that the whole household will come down with it. Why is norovirus, also known as the “stomach bug,” so contagious? Is there any way to avoid it?

UR Medicine infectious disease expert Brenda Tesini, MD, separates fact from fiction and explains the most important things to do to help keep norovirus from spreading.

MYTH: Norovirus is a stomach flu.

Norovirus is commonly referred to as the “stomach flu,” but it’s a completely different virus from the one that causes actual flu. It can also be confused with food poisoning because they have similar symptoms, and both can spread through contaminated food.

Norovirus is a group of viruses that cause vomiting and diarrhea. It’s the leading cause of these symptoms in the United States. Symptoms generally show up between 12 and 48 hours after exposure.

Norovirus is best known for causing outbreaks on cruise ships but can also spread in many group settings like daycares, schools, and nursing homes.

FACT: Norovirus is extremely contagious.

Norovirus is extremely contagious because people who are sick with it can release billions of virus particles, and it takes less than 100 of those particles to infect someone else. A person can be contagious for two to three days after they start to feel better.

Plus, the virus can stay on objects or surfaces for up to two weeks and is hard to clean off completely. The virus also survives high heat (up to 145 degrees Fahrenheit), so it can spread through food that is cooked quickly with low heat.

MYTH: Activated charcoal, grape seed extract, and Coca-Cola can help prevent infection.

There is a lot of disinformation on social media, but the only way to prevent norovirus is by careful handwashing and disinfecting.

When you’re handling contaminated objects or surfaces, wear disposable gloves. Be sure to wash soiled clothes and linens immediately in hot water. Frequently clean surfaces and objects that the sick person has touched using either a chlorine bleach solution with at least 5.25% bleach or a product approved by the EPA for norovirus.

FACT: Hand sanitizer can’t kill norovirus.

Hand washing is the most important thing because alcohol-based hand sanitizer can’t kill germs that cause norovirus. Always use soap and water and wash thoroughly. Be sure to wash your hands:

AFTER

• Using the bathroom
• Direct contact with someone who’s sick (like helping your sick child)
• Cleaning dirty clothes or linens
• Cleaning the house or space around the sick person

BEFORE

• Preparing food
• Eating food
• Drinking
• Putting in contacts
• Anything that requires touching your face