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photo of a group of people sitting around a table full of foodNorovirus is a very contagious virus that can infect anyone. You can get it from an infected person, contaminated food or water, or by touching contaminated surfaces. The virus causes your stomach or intestines or both to get inflamed. This leads you to have stomach pain, nausea, and diarrhea and to throw up. These symptoms can be serious for some people, especially young children and older adults... more

Norovirus Topics

About Norovirus

Overview about the virus, how it spreads, symptoms, treatment...

For Food Handlers

Information about how norovirus spreads through contaminated food and water...

For Health Care Providers

Clinical features, transmission, diagnosis, disease burden, treatment...

For Public Health Professionals

Information about burden of norovirus illness and outbreaks, surveillance & reporting, investigations...

Preventing Norovirus Infection

You can help protect yourself and others from norovirus infection by following some simple tips...

Trends and Outbreaks

Information about how common norovirus illness is, who gets infected, and when...

Laboratory Testing

Types of laboratory testing done to diagnose norovirus infection, guidelines, reporting systems...

Resources & References

Scientific articles and educational materials related to norovirus...

Many Names, Same Symptoms


You may hear norovirus illness called "food poisoning" or "stomach flu." It is true that food poisoning can be caused by noroviruses. But, other germs and chemicals can also cause food poisoning.

Norovirus illness is not related to the flu, which is a respiratory illness caused by influenza virus.

Graph showing known causes of foodborne illness outbreaks, U.S. 2006-2008, Norovirus 51%, Bacteria 38%, Parasites, 1%, Chemicals 6%, Other 4%

food handling

Norovirus outbreaks occur throughout the year. But, over 80% of the outbreaks occur from November to April. In this data & statistics feature, learn about Surveillance for Norovirus Outbreaks.

Review other norovirus multimedia tools.

CDC Norovirus Disease Widget. Flash Player 9 or above is required.
CDC Norovirus Disease Widget.
Flash Player 9 or above is required.

Symptoms

The most common symptoms are:

Woman with a stomachache.
  • diarrhea
  • throwing up
  • nausea
  • stomach pain

Other symptoms include:

  • fever
  • headache
  • body aches

You can get dehydrated if you are not able to drink enough liquids. You may urinate less, have a dry mouth and throat, and feel dizzy.

More

 

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