Washing your hands has been a significant step of daily life since the 1800s, but now, it has become as imperative as ever. The sickening Norovirus germs have been reported at a substantial degree, proving why you must wash your hands; sanitizing unfortunately is not going to cut it.
UC Health Today has stated that standard hand sanitizer will not eliminate the Norovirus germs. Health and medicine websites have recommended hand washing with warm water and soap to prevent the spread of icky Norovirus germs on your hands. Before eating or touching your face, especially your mouth, wash your hands to provide a safe environment for yourself and others.
What is Norovirus in the first place? Let’s explain. According to The Cleveland Clinic, Norovirus is a nausea-inducing virus. Along with nausea, it causes vomiting and diarrhea, similar to the flu, but at a more constant rate of producing bodily fluids. The virus usually spreads quickly during colder months and is “the No. 1 cause of foodborne illness in the United States,” The Cleveland Clinic says. About 200 million children are infected with Norovirus a year, making up about 29% of the 685 million cases per year.
The CDC has created a website with the results of “NoroStat” data. They state that between August and December of 2024, 495 cases had been reported from NoroStat states. They have also added that the number of cases reported between 2024 and 2025 has exceeded the range previously set by the years of 2012-2020 and 2021-2024. For example, at this time in 2021, there were only about 5 outbreaks. As of December 2024, there were about 91 outbreaks.
Those who contract Norovirus, Michigan.gov writes, will experience symptoms for 24-48 hours. After this period, those infected are expected to return to normal. If you are unable to drink enough liquid to replace what you have lost, you may experience dehydration, and visiting a healthcare provider is essential. Dehydration usually affects those with fragile immune systems and is not present in every case. However, not experiencing symptoms does not correlate to being non-contagious. At the very least, those with Norovirus are contagious until 3 days after symptoms have ended, and at the very most, 2 weeks. If you are unsure or wary of symptoms, reach out to a healthcare professional.
Before you reach for your food after touching a door handle or rub your nose after using a shopping cart, wash your hands to avoid the awful, no good, nasty Norovirus.
