# Virus, incubation and contagiousness

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virus-incubation-and-contagiousness/534180>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 29, 2010, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virus-incubation-and-contagiousness/534180 "2010-03-29T03:24:26Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virus-incubation-and-contagiousness/534180/1 "2010-03-29T03:24:26Z")

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My family (well, my brother’s family) has been passing this stomach bug around for the last 3 weeks. SIL’s sister brought it from Washington DC, infected SIL’s parents, then SIL a week after the sister had left, and now my mom (who cares for bro & SIL’s baby at their house) got it this weekend, a week after SIL was done with it.

My dad hasn’t gotten it yet but I think he’ll be next. We’re not sure if bro got it or if he just stressed himself out with caring for a sick wife and infant. I’m the last one standing.

Today my mom asked me to go somewhere with her (the first day she’s been able to eat) and I said no, I didn’t want to be in a car with her for any length of time.

So my question is this…are people passing this bug along before they get the illness, during the illness, or after the illness?

“every virus is different and there’s no way to know” is an acceptable answer. But I’d also like some tips as to when you think it would be acceptable to share air with my mom again.

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**Author:** ![si\_blakely](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@si\_blakely](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/si_blakely)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virus-incubation-and-contagiousness/534180/2 "2010-03-29T10:23:16Z")

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The [norovirus (winter vomiting virus)](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norovirus) is extremely transmissible, and can easily be spread by vomit aerosols.  
[QUOTE=[http://www.eurosurveillance.org/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleId=725](http://www.eurosurveillance.org/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleId=725)]  
A wedding reception attended by 126 guests was held in a hotel in the west of Ireland on Friday 6 October 2006. Prior to serving the evening banquet, a guest had episodes of projectile vomiting at the dinner table and in close proximity to other tables in the function room. The guest had a further episode of vomiting in the toilet adjacent to the function room and then retired to a bedroom until departure on Sunday morning. Between 9.00 am on Saturday 7 October and 11.30 pm on Tuesday 10 October, 97 other people (including wedding guests, other hotel guests and hotel staff) developed gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea).  
[/QUOTE]  
I would avoid anyone who has had the virus for several days post-infection (people can remain infectious for up to [2 weeks](http://www.medic8.com/infectious-diseases/norvovirus.htm)), and use all possible hygiene measures for that long.

> [@](#):
>
> People infected with norovirus are contagious from the moment they begin feeling ill to at least 3 days after recovery. Some people may be contagious for as long as 2 weeks after recovery. Therefore, it is particularly important for people to use good handwashing and other hygienic practices after they have recently recovered from norovirus illness.

Si