Frequently Asked Questions

Symptoms typically develop 12 to 48 hours after exposure to the virus and last one to three days. Symptoms may include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Watery diarrhea
• Stomach cramps
• Low-grade fever
• Muscle aches

Norovirus is very contagious. The virus is found in the stool (feces) or vomit of infected people. From there, noroviruses are transferred to food, water, or surfaces by the hands of infected people who have not washed adequately after using the bathroom.

People become infected with norovirus by:

• Eating food or drinking liquids contaminated by an infected person.
• Eating uncooked shellfish that has been harvested from contaminated waters.
• Touching contaminated surfaces or objects and then touching their mouth or eating without washing their hands first.

Fortunately, most individuals who become ill with Norovirus do not require medical attention. You can care for yourself at home until the illness passes. Be sure to:

• Stay home if you are sick: If you experience symptoms of norovirus, stay home and avoid attending classes or social gatherings until at least 48 hours after symptoms subside to prevent spreading the virus to others.
• Drink plenty of fluids so you don’t become dehydrated. Frequent watery diarrhea and vomitting can quickly lead to dehydration so be sure to drink plenty of water or electrolyte rich fluids.
• Slowly reintroducing foods into your diet is recommended. Start with small meals/snacks and stick to bland foods until your GI system has recovered. Use the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast) as a guide.
• Wash your hands often and do not prepare food for others until your symptoms have completely resolved.
• Wipe down all high touch surfaces and objects with a cleaner approved for Noroviruses.
• Contact your health care provider if your symptoms are severe or are lasting greater than 1-3 days (but remember that antibiotics don’t treat viruses).

Prevention of Norovirus is key! The following steps are essential to keeping yourself and campus healthy:

1. Practice Proper Hand Hygiene: Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water, especially before eating, preparing food, and after using the restroom. Hand sanitizers are generally less effective against norovirus, so quality hand washing is essential.
2. Avoid Sharing Food and Utensils: Do not share eating utensils, cups, or food with others, as this can facilitate the spread of the virus.
3. Disinfect Surfaces: Regularly clean and disinfect commonly touched surfaces, such as doorknobs, light switches, and electronic devices, using disinfectants effective against norovirus.
4. Handle Food Safely: Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly and ensure shellfish are cooked to at least 145°F to kill any potential viruses.

In most cases, testing to confirm norovirus is unnecessary. Testing can be completed via stool sample should special circumstances occur.

As always, we recommend seeking out reliable resources for additional information on Norovirus or any illness. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Minnesota Department of Health are readily available and updated regularly.