Norovirus is a very contagious virus that causes vomiting and diarrhea. The virus spreads easily and quickly, both from infected people to others and through contaminated foods and surfaces. The most commonly reported setting for norovirus outbreaks in the United States and other industrialized countries is healthcare, including long-term care facilities and hospitals. An outbreak of norovirus is defined as an occurrence of two or more similar illnesses resulting from a common exposure that is either suspected or laboratory-confirmed to be caused by norovirus (definition from Responding to Norovirus link below).

Featured Resources:

• CDC/HICPAC’s Guideline for the Prevention and Control of Norovirus Gastroenteritis Outbreaks in Healthcare Settingsaddresses prevention and control of norovirus gastroenteritis outbreaks in healthcare settings.
• CDC’s Norovirus Outbreak Control Resource Toolkitincludes a sample communication framework, case report forms, infection prevention and control recommendations, and an instructional slide presentation.
• Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) List G: Antimicrobial Products Registered with EPA Claims Against Norovirus (Feline calicivirus) provides a list of surface disinfectants with laboratory data demonstrating the product kills norovirus.

Additional Resources:

• CDC’s About Norovirusand Responding to Norovirus websites provide information on the signs and symptoms of norovirus, prevention measures, reporting and surveillance for norovirus including state level data, and current outbreaks.
• CDC’s Fact Sheet: Norovirus in Healthcare Facilities is a two page fact sheet describing norovirus and control measures.
• The EPA's How to Read a Disinfectant Label provides a pictorial highlighting the important elements, such as EPA registration number, instructions for use, and contact time, of disinfectant labels.
• This authors of this manuscript present the challenges and economic burden posed by healthcare associated norovirus outbreaks and offer control recommendations: Burden of norovirus in healthcare facilities and strategies for outbreak control.

Last updated February 10, 2023