Home

Public Health Alerts

Clinic Locations

Programs and Services

Health Connection

Birth and Death Certificates

Request Records

Board of Health

Health Regulations

Environmental Health

Food Establishment/Restaurant Inspections

Emergency Preparedness

Employment

Media

About Us

Norovirus Fact Sheet

(Norwalk and Norwalk-like Virus)

Who gets Norovirus?

Norovirus (also known as Norwalk and Norwalk-like virus) is

• A viral infection
• A common cause of diarrhea and vomiting sickness in the United States.

Who gets Norovirus infection?

• Any person of any age group can become infected
• It occurs mainly in humans and is found in every part of the world.
• There are many strains of norovirus that makes it hard for the body to develop immunity to the virus.

How is Norovirus spread?

Norovirus is spread by:

• Infected people
• Contaminated food and water.
• The virus is found in stool and vomit.

You may get norovirus if you:

• Eat food or drink liquids that have been contaminated with Norovirus,
• Touch surfaces or objects contaminated with norovirus, and then place your hands in your mouth, or
• Have direct contact with another person who has the virus and has diarrhea or is vomiting.

What are the symptoms?

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Non-bloody diarrhea stomach cramps
• Headache
• Low-grade fever may also occur.
• How soon after exposure do symptoms usually appear?
• Most people will begin to have symptoms within 1 to 2 days
• Some people may become ill as early as 10 hours or as late as 3 days.

How long do symptoms last?

• Persons with norovirus usually recover within 2 to 3 days without serious or long-term health effects.
• Even though the virus is easy to spread, serious illness rarely occurs.

What is the treatment?

• No specific treatment is available.
• Drink plenty of clear fluids.
• Rarely, people may become sick enough to go to the hospital.
• There is no vaccine available.
• Antibiotics should not be used.
• If I get it once, will I get it again?
• Norovirus infection only gives you short-term immunity.
• A person may get sick each time he/she comes in contact with the virus.

How can norovirus be prevented?

Here are ways to reduce your risk of getting or spreading the virus:

• Wash hands thoroughly after each toilet visit and before preparing food.
• Wash fruits and vegetables.
• Cook Shellfish such as oysters and clams before eating them.
• Clean and disinfect contaminated surfaces immediately after an episode of illness by using a bleach-based household cleaner.
• Remove and wash clothing or linens that are soiled with stool or vomit.
• Flush or discard any vomit and/or stool in the toilet and make sure that the surrounding area is kept clean.

Where can I get more information?

• Your personal doctor
• The Salt Lake Valley Health Department (801) 534-4607 or (801) 313-6620
• The Utah Department of Health, Office of Epidemiology (801) 538-6191
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Or Visit these links:

Recreational and Drinking Waterborne Disease Prevention (47 KB)

Hand washing/hygiene education information

Guidelines for Environmental Cleaning and Disinfection of Norovirus (203 KB)