Table of ContentsView All
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Table of Contents
How Long to Stay Home
How It Spreads
Prevention
When to Call a Provider
Norovirus, sometimes called “thestomach flu,” is very contagious. You can spread the virus the whole time you’re sick, but you’re the most contagious while you’re having symptoms.
You can still spread the stomach flu even when you’re starting to feel better. Depending on the severity of your symptoms, the contagious period for the stomach flu can last from a few days up to a few weeks.
The amount of time that you can spread the stomach flu depends on what germ is making you sick, since norovirus is not the only pathogen that causes symptoms of the stomach flu. This article looks at how long the stomach flu is contagious and how many days you should stay home if you get sick.
Kate Wieser / Getty Images
Is a Virus or Bacteria Making You Sick?
The viruses and bacteria that causegastroenteritis(the medical term for stomach flu) can be contagious for different amounts of time.
The cause of the stomach flu will determine when symptoms will start, how long they’ll last, and the length of time you’ll be able to spread the illness to other people. You may pass on the stomach flu to someone else before you even know you have it or well after you think you’ve gotten over it.
Norovirusis one of the most contagious infectious illnesses around. It only takes a few particles to make you sick, and you can start having symptoms within one to two days of being exposed. You’ll be contagious while you’re having symptoms and for up to 2 weeks after you start feeling better.
Rotavirusis a common cause of stomach flu,especially in kids. You’ll usually start having symptoms within two days of being exposed to someone who is sick and can spread it to other people while you’re having symptoms and for up to 10 days after you recover.
“Food poisoning” is a broad term for the “stomach flu” you get from eating or drinking something contaminated with certain bacteria, like campylobacter orE. coli.
Campylobactersymptoms usually start two to five days after you’ve been exposed and can last for up to a week.While it’s not common to spread this infection to other people, if you’re having diarrhea, it is possible for the infection to spread to others—especially if you don’t wash your hands after using the bathroom.
E. coli symptoms come on within three to four days of being exposed, and you may have symptoms for a week to 10 days. During that time, you’ll be able to get other people sick.
Rotavirus vs. Norovirus
How Long Should You Stay Home With the Stomach Flu?
In general, you should stay home for as long as you have symptoms of the stomach flu and for between 24 hours and 48 hours after your symptoms go away.
If you’re running a fever, you’re definitely contagious. But even without a fever, stomach viruses are easy to spread.
You may want to go back to work or send your child to school once the vomiting or diarrhea has stopped, but it’s important to wait the full 24 hours after the last episode of symptoms to leave home to make sure you aren’t going to spread the stomach flu to others.
Your symptoms are unlikely to come back once they’ve been gone for 24 hours (though it’s possible).
What is the 24-Hour Flu?
How Stomach Flu Is Spread
This can come from:
Is the Stomach Flu the Same as Food Poisoning?
How to Prevent Passing the Stomach Flu to Others
One of the most effective ways to prevent the stomach flu from spreading or at least greatly reduce the chances of getting someone else sick is washing your hands frequently and often.
Here are other stomach flu prevention steps you can take at home:
Food Safety Guide
When to Call a Healthcare Provider
Staying home doesn’t just help you avoid spreading the stomach flu to others; it also gives you the chance to rest and stay hydrated.
Usually, that’s all you need to do to get over a bout of the stomach flu. However, you should call your healthcare provider or go to your nearest urgent care center if you have the stomach flu and you:
Could You Have the Stomach Flu?
Summary
Stomach viruses are very contagious. You can spread them before symptoms start and for up to two weeks after you feel better.
You should stay home for 24 to 48 hours after symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, and fever have stopped.
Home Remedies for Norovirus
12 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Khan MK, Alam MM.Norovirus gastroenteritis outbreaks, genomic diversity and evolution: An overview.Mymensingh Med J. 2021;30(3):863-873.Stegmaier T, Oellingrath E, Himmel M, Fraas S.Differences in epidemic spread patterns of norovirus and influenza seasons of Germany: an application of optical flow analysis in epidemiology.Sci Rep. 2020;10(1):14125. doi:10.1038/s41598-020-70973-4Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About norovirus.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About rotavirus.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Clinical overview of campylobacter.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Escherichia coli, Diarrheagenic, CDC Yellow Book 2024.Orenstein R.Gastroenteritis, viral.Encyclopedia of Gastroenterology. 2020"652-657. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-801238-3.65973-1University of Michigan.Norovirus.Arizona Healthcare Associated Infection Program.What is norovirus?.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.How norovirus spreads.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About four steps to food safety.MedlinePlus.Gastroenteritis.Additional ReadingCenters for Disease Control and Prevention.Clinical overview of campylobacter.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About escherichia coli infection.
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Khan MK, Alam MM.Norovirus gastroenteritis outbreaks, genomic diversity and evolution: An overview.Mymensingh Med J. 2021;30(3):863-873.Stegmaier T, Oellingrath E, Himmel M, Fraas S.Differences in epidemic spread patterns of norovirus and influenza seasons of Germany: an application of optical flow analysis in epidemiology.Sci Rep. 2020;10(1):14125. doi:10.1038/s41598-020-70973-4Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About norovirus.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About rotavirus.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Clinical overview of campylobacter.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Escherichia coli, Diarrheagenic, CDC Yellow Book 2024.Orenstein R.Gastroenteritis, viral.Encyclopedia of Gastroenterology. 2020"652-657. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-801238-3.65973-1University of Michigan.Norovirus.Arizona Healthcare Associated Infection Program.What is norovirus?.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.How norovirus spreads.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About four steps to food safety.MedlinePlus.Gastroenteritis.Additional ReadingCenters for Disease Control and Prevention.Clinical overview of campylobacter.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About escherichia coli infection.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Khan MK, Alam MM.Norovirus gastroenteritis outbreaks, genomic diversity and evolution: An overview.Mymensingh Med J. 2021;30(3):863-873.Stegmaier T, Oellingrath E, Himmel M, Fraas S.Differences in epidemic spread patterns of norovirus and influenza seasons of Germany: an application of optical flow analysis in epidemiology.Sci Rep. 2020;10(1):14125. doi:10.1038/s41598-020-70973-4Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About norovirus.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About rotavirus.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Clinical overview of campylobacter.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Escherichia coli, Diarrheagenic, CDC Yellow Book 2024.Orenstein R.Gastroenteritis, viral.Encyclopedia of Gastroenterology. 2020"652-657. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-801238-3.65973-1University of Michigan.Norovirus.Arizona Healthcare Associated Infection Program.What is norovirus?.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.How norovirus spreads.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About four steps to food safety.MedlinePlus.Gastroenteritis.
Khan MK, Alam MM.Norovirus gastroenteritis outbreaks, genomic diversity and evolution: An overview.Mymensingh Med J. 2021;30(3):863-873.
Stegmaier T, Oellingrath E, Himmel M, Fraas S.Differences in epidemic spread patterns of norovirus and influenza seasons of Germany: an application of optical flow analysis in epidemiology.Sci Rep. 2020;10(1):14125. doi:10.1038/s41598-020-70973-4
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About norovirus.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About rotavirus.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Clinical overview of campylobacter.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Escherichia coli, Diarrheagenic, CDC Yellow Book 2024.
Orenstein R.Gastroenteritis, viral.Encyclopedia of Gastroenterology. 2020"652-657. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-801238-3.65973-1
University of Michigan.Norovirus.
Arizona Healthcare Associated Infection Program.What is norovirus?.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.How norovirus spreads.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About four steps to food safety.
MedlinePlus.Gastroenteritis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Clinical overview of campylobacter.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About escherichia coli infection.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About escherichia coli infection.
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