How does norovirus start

Page last reviewed: 22 November Next review due: 22 November Read our cookies policy to find out more about our cookies and how we use them. Norovirus can be unpleasant but it usually clears up by itself in a few days. You can normally look after yourself or your child at home. Try to avoid going to your GP, as norovirus can spread to others very easily. Symptoms of norovirus You're likely to have norovirus if you experience: feeling sick being sick vomiting diarrhoea Some people also have a slight fever, headaches, painful stomach cramps and aching limbs.

The symptoms start 1 to 2 days after you become infected and last for up to 2 or 3 days. Treatment for norovirus The best thing to do is to stay at home until you're feeling better.

Information: Antibiotics won't help because it's caused by a virus. Read about how to treat diarrhoea and vomiting in children and adults How norovirus is spread Norovirus spreads very easily in public places such as hospitals, nursing homes and schools. Information to help volunteers prepare and serve food safely for large groups such as family reunions, church dinners, and community gatherings. As a food manager or worker you have a responsibility to protect yourself and your guests from foodborne illness.

Learn what you can do to prepare, serve and store food safely. Protect others if you are experiencing diarrhea! Anyone with a diarrheal illness should avoid swimming in public pools or lakes, sharing baths with others, and preparing food for others. Young children children in diapers that are experiencing diarrhea should not be allowed to go swimming or attend daycare. What are the symptoms? How long does it last? How is it spread? This can happen:. For more information on healthy water and how water can get contaminated, visit www.

Surfaces can get contaminated with norovirus in many ways, including when:. View larger image image icon. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link. Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. How Norovirus Spreads. While most norovirus symptoms pass within 1 to 3 days, some cases can cause severe dehydration and complications, and in some individuals, the virus can persist in the intestines for months and cause prolonged inflammatory bowel disorders.

Young children and older adults are at higher risk of becoming seriously ill from norovirus, and as such, most norovirus deaths tend to occur in these age groups. There is little known about how norovirus infections begin, but a recent study led by researchers from the Washington University School of Medicine has revealed more about how the virus infects the intestines. In the study , published in the journal Science , the researchers studied norovirus in mice, as human norovirus is difficult to grow in a lab.

They found that the virus targets tuft cells, a rare type of epithelial cell that protrudes into the intestines which trigger an immune response to parasitic and worm infections.