When do stomach bugs become contagious

You are most contagious. However, studies have shown that you can still spread norovirus for two weeks or more after you feel better. Norovirus can easily contaminate food and water because it only takes a very small amount of virus particles to make you sick. Food and water can get contaminated with norovirus in many ways, including when:. Norovirus is the leading cause of illness and outbreaks from contaminated food in the United States.

Most of these outbreaks occur in food service settings like restaurants. Infected food workers are frequently the source of outbreaks, often by touching ready-to-eat foods, such as raw fruits and vegetables, with their bare hands before serving them.

However, any food served raw or handled after being cooked can become contaminated with norovirus. Recreational or drinking water can get contaminated with norovirus and make you sick or contaminate your food.

This can happen:. For more information on healthy water and how water can get contaminated, visit www. Discriminating between the two can be difficult. A stomach bug and food poisoning can be commonly…. It can be tough to drink enough water throughout the day, but dehydration can have consequences. For most healthy people, norovirus symptoms last one to three days. But for some, the virus can remain in the intestines for weeks or months, causing…. When the stomach flu strikes, it can be difficult to keep anything down, but certain foods may help you bounce back quicker.

Here are 17 foods and…. Bacterial infections are common causes of gastroenteritis. Also called food poisoning, these infections are caused by poor hygiene or eating…. For some people with irritable bowel syndrome IBS , the stay-at-home orders may have offered relief from symptoms such as cramping, abdominal pain….

Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Contagiousness Causes Transmission Prevent getting it Prevent spreading it Home remedies When to get medical care Bottom line Stomach flu is a viral infection of your intestines.

The stomach flu is contagious, which means it can be spread from one person to another. Learn how long the stomach flu is contagious, how it spreads, and how you can avoid getting it. How long are you contagious with stomach flu? What causes stomach flu? How does the stomach flu spread? How can you lower your risk of getting the stomach flu? How can you prevent the spread? What are some home remedies for the stomach flu? What are the signs you should get medical attention? Read this next.

Medically reviewed by Saurabh Sethi, M. Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance. Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile.

Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights. Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. Stomach flu — or more accurately gastroenteritis — causes symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea , nausea, fever, weakness, and more. When we have the unfortunate symptoms that come with the "stomach flu" — vomiting, diarrhea, fever, weakness, nausea, etc.

Many times I have heard people say "I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy" yet it is often so contagious that we end up spreading it to everyone in the household. No one likes getting sick and the "stomach flu" which is not actually the flu, but gastroenteritis is one of the worst. But do you know why this illness is so contagious? Do you know how and when it is spread?

Chances are good you could be spreading it without even realizing it. Viral gastroenteritis can be caused by several different viruses. Rotavirus is another common cause that can be very serious for young children. Fortunately, there is a vaccine for rotavirus now so it is not nearly as prevalent as it used to be.

Both of these viruses and others that cause "stomach flu" symptoms are highly contagious:. With both of these viruses, children are often contagious and spread the illness for longer than adults.

Stomach bugs are spread through close contact. Sharing utensils or food and not washing hands frequently are common reasons that the viruses spread through families. Important steps to take if someone in your home is sick with gastroenteritis:.