Is Stomach Flu Contagious?

Stomach flu is contagious because germs can escape from the body of someone who already has it (we'll leave the details up to your imagination) and then find their way into the digestive system of a new host. Stomach flu germs from the air can even settle on surfaces in your home, waiting to be picked up on your hands and transferred somehow to your mouth.

Most often, stomach flu is contagious through direct contact with an infected person, like shaking hands or kissing. It can also be very contagious in crowded environments like a dorm or a restaurant. One of the easiest ways to transmit it is by sharing eating utensils and drink containers.

Every virus has an "incubation period." It's the time between the moment when the virus enters the system to the time when symptoms begin to appear. This incubation period varies depending on the type of virus, but it can be as short as a few hours.

If the infection comes from a rotavirus, the individual will be contagious during the incubation period. In other words, they may be spreading a virus they don't even know they have yet. This person will also be contagious while experiencing stomach flu symptoms. Once the person's diarrhea has passed, so has the time they're contagious.
 
However, someone with a rotavirus (including Norwalk) isn't normally usually contagious during incubation. These people are only contagious from the time they start experiencing symptoms until approximately three days after their symptoms are gone.

A person infected with a rotavirus can even be contagious for as long as two weeks after they feel well again.

Symptoms

Early signs of stomach flu include

• vomiting,
• stomach cramps,
• nausea,
• muscle aches,
• mild fever,
• loss of appetite,
• fatigue,
• diarrhea, and
• chills.

Once the stomach flu virus is in the body, symptoms can show up rapidly and simultaneously. There's a general feeling of discomfort in the stomach area, followed by any of the symptoms listed above.

In most cases, symptoms only last a 48-72 hours. But if you still have symptoms after 3-4 days, it's time to see a doctor to determine if your diarrhea is the result of the stomach flu virus or something else.