An infectious disease specialist shares how to stop this bug in its tracks.
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If someone you live with gets norovirus (the nasty stomach bug on the rise), your first thought might be something like, “Damn, I feel so bad for them,” followed quickly by some form of, “I need to make sure I don’t catch it.” There’s nothing like the constant sound of vomit to make you pray you aren’t the virus’s next victim. But before you grab the cleaning supplies, know this: Many common disinfectants (containing things like ammonia and alcohol), hand sanitizer, and even Clorox and Lysol wipes, often do not fully kill norovirus. You’re going to need the hard stuff for this one: a bleach solution…and a strong arm.
That’sbecausenorovirusisasturdylittlebugger.Unlikeplentyofothercommonviruses,likeCOVID-19andflu,whicharesurroundedbyafatmembrane(or“envelope”),norovirusissecuredinaverystrongproteinshellcalledacapsid,LaurenPischel,MD,MSc,aninfectiousdiseasespecialistandinstructoratYaleSchoolofMedicine,tellsSELF.Cleaningagents,handsanitizer,andsoaphaveadifficulttimedissolvingthathardproteinlayer,she
