How long are people infectious with Norro Virus? Son went to GFs and they have both  come down with either Norro Virus or some other vomiting bug. GFs mother and sister had it a few days ago.
Having elderly parents, a daughter still not recovered from major abdominal surgery and a 3 month old G.daughter, not to mention the busiest week of the year at work I really don't want him bringing it back to us. How long should I ask him to stay away?

Until they have been free of symptoms for 48 hours.

Dawn R,

great, thanks for the prompt reply

That is true but watchout.  We thought we were all better at our house and the bug/symptoms came back with a vengence.  We are now 2 weeks later and still not back to 'normal'.  Stomach pains, loss of appetite and 'toilet issues' are all still causing the kids hassle.  ~Everyone is the same round here.  This bug seems to linger a lot longer than normal.

I agree with Cracar, I came down with the bug last Sunday, i'd say today is the first day i feel 'normal'.

48 hours is the rule but with things like this virus I 'up' my usual cleanliness routine and go around anti bacterial - ing everything - door handles,light switches etc to try and stop any bugs spreading.

Use soap and water for hand hygiene as alcohol gels don't work against this virus

Hmm. I had hoped he would be home at Christmas! If he does bring it back with him how long before I start showing symptoms? Probably absolutely not related but i have a splitting headache at the moment. I am not usually a hypochondriac but I havent got time to be ill this week.

>I am not usually a hypochondriac but I havent got time to be ill this week

If you have Norovirus then you will have no choice. You will feel so ill, you just won't care about anything else! I had this last year and had a terrible headache 24 hours before I went down with it. I lost over a stone in weight in 12 hours. I sincerely hope that you (or anyone else) do not get it. Maybe your headache is just 'stress' though, so hope it passes soon.

I felt fine on Sunday morning, went to work as normal, had lunch and about an hour or so after lunch had really bad stomach pains, then I started vomitting about an hour after that, then it was downhill! It came on very quickly and nothing I could do!

I had the S&D bug, was clear for a week, then it came back again.  Been ok for just over a week now, but am keeping away from visiting my elderly parents just to be safe.

alcohol gels don't work against this virus

Parvocide does. :)  I don't know why it's not used in hospitals......

http://www.hcronline.com/msdsandtech/techdata/Parvocide%2099.pdf

> I don't know why it's not used in hospitals......

Why would they when the proper use of soap and water is effective?

If the cleaning regime that they use was working then they wouldn't need to shut wards.  They don't clean door knobs, toilet flushes etc with soap and water.  In fact I'm not sure that they are cleaned often enough with anything.

I'd like to see everything steam cleaned between patients. :)

When my Mother was in hospital, there were soiled dressings - not hers - under her bed. :(

> They don't clean door knobs, toilet flushes etc with soap and water.  In fact I'm not sure that they are cleaned often enough with anything.

It's never going to be practical to clean these things after every patient or visitor so switching to an expensive product rather than soap or detergent is not the answer.  What really needs to happen is correct hand washing by each individual using the facilities.  How often do you stand next to someone in a public toilet and watch them warming their bacteria nicely for a few seconds under a tap and then doing nothing else?

From speaking to those who've had it, it comes on very quickly. Fine one minute and then not the next. Go to bed ok and wake puking...
I've been having a googly stomach all day and I just hope to god I don't have it, however a colleague had it, was I our office, went home and with 48hrs just over was back at work.. I think far too soon r she didn't actually have it.
From what I've been told only a GP can state you have it rather then self diagnosis

A colleague came into work yesterday with a headache and within two hours was going home after being ill.

She was just going to change and freshen up then come back (she thought it was just a sicky headache)....her OH called to say she was ill again at home so wouldn't be back.

Sounds to me like she's got the bug.

I thought we'd done well with no one off with it. I suppose now it'll spread around like wildfire.....sods law really, it was her first day back from a weeks holiday!

They have closed a ward in our local hospital - again - due to Noro and are saying incubation is 'several days' and visitors to stay away for 72 hrs after symptoms end.