Home > Practice Areas > Foodborne Illness > Are You a Victim of Food Poisoning? > Norovirus
Norovirus causes illness called gastroenteritis. Gastroenteritis is the inflammation of the stomach and intestines. While similar to the stomach flu, gastroenteritis is not related to influenza which is a respiratory illness.
Noroviruses are very contagious and include Norwalk, Snow Mountain, Hawaii viruses. They are found in contaminated food or drinks but can also live on surfaces and are spread through contact with infected persons. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), each year over 23 million Norovirus infections result in an estimated 50,000 hospitalizations and 310 deaths. Symptoms of Norovirus infection include nausea, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, headache, fatigue, fever, muscle aches. Symptoms usually develop within hours or a few days after you are infected with a Norovirus and can take a couple of days before improvement.