Acute Communicable
Disease Control

 
Contact Information
County of Los Angeles
Department of Public Health
Acute Communicable Disease Control
313 N. Figueroa Street, #212
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone: (213) 240-7941
Fax: (213) 482-4856
Email:acdc2@ph.lacounty.gov

Call 211 For Information 24/7

Have questions about things like where to go for vaccinations or other health care services?

Call 2-1-1.

Adobe Reader

Note: PDF documents on this site were created using Adobe Acrobat 5.0 or later. If you are using an earlier version of Adobe Acrobat Reader (4.x or less), document functionality may be reduced.
Acute Communicable Disease Control

Gastrointestinal Illnesses - Noroviruses

Page Updated 9-19-23

Resources

Facts About Norovirus

What Is Norovirus?

Noroviruses are a group of viruses that cause gastroenteritis (GAS-tro-en-ter-EYE-tis) in people. Gastroenteritis refers to an inflammation of the stomach and intestines.

Signs and Symptoms

The symptoms of norovirus illness usually include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and some stomach cramping. Sometimes people additionally have a low-grade fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, and a general sense of tiredness. The illness often begins suddenly, and the infected person may feel very sick. In general, children experience more vomiting than adults. Most people with norovirus illness have both diarrhea and vomiting. The illness is usually brief with symptoms lasting for 1 or 2 days.

Transmission

Noroviruses are found in the stool (feces/poop) or vomit of infected people. People can become infected with the virus in several ways, including:

  • eating food or drinking liquids that are contaminated with norovirus
  • touching surfaces or objects contaminated with norovirus, and then placing their hand in their mouth
  • having direct contact with another person who is infected and showing symptoms (for example, when caring for someone with illness, or sharing foods or eating utensils with someone who is ill)

Persons working in day-care centers or nursing homes should pay special attention to children or residents who have norovirus illness. This virus is very contagious and can spread rapidly throughout such environments.

Treatment

Currently, there is no antiviral medication that works against norovirus and there is no vaccine to prevent infection. Norovirus infection cannot be treated with antibiotics. This is because antibiotics work to fight bacteria and not viruses.

Norovirus illness is usually brief in healthy individuals. When people are ill with vomiting and diarrhea, they should drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. Dehydration among young children, the elderly and the sick, can be common, and it is the most serious health effect that can result from norovirus infection. By drinking oral rehydration fluids (ORF), juice, or water, people can reduce their chance of becoming dehydrated. Sports drinks do not replace the nutrients and minerals lost during this illness.

Prevention

Steps to prevent noroviruses include:

  • Frequently wash your hands (vigorously, with soap and warm water), especially after toilet visits and changing diapers and before eating or preparing food.
  • Carefully wash fruits and vegetables, and thoroughly cook shellfish (the virus is killed above 60°C /140°F, freezing does not kill it)
  • Thoroughly clean and disinfect contaminated surfaces immediately after an episode of illness by using a bleach-based household cleaner.
  • Immediately remove and wash clothing or linens that may be contaminated with virus after an episode of illness (use hot water and soap).
  • Flush or discard any vomitus and/or stool in the toilet (with the lid down) and make sure that the surrounding area is kept clean.
  • Persons who are infected with norovirus should not prepare food while they have symptoms and for 48 hours after they recover from their illness.
  • Immediately remove and wash clothing or linens that may be contaminated with virus after an episode of illness (use hot water and soap).
  • Food that may have been contaminated by an ill person should be disposed of properly.

For more information about noroviruses visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Norovirus Page.

Salmonella FAQ
(English) (Spanish)

Reptile-Associated Salmonella
Webpage 
 
Public Health has made reasonable efforts to provide accurate translation. However, no computerized translation is perfect and is not intended to replace traditional translation methods. If questions arise concerning the accuracy of the information, please refer to the English edition of the website, which is the official version.
Los Angeles County Seal: Enriching lives through effective and caring services