How long are people contagious after a stomach virus?

[LucyG]

We are supposed to get together with out-of-town friends this weekend. They (both parents and one of the kids) have had a nasty diarrhea/vomiting/fever bug in the past two weeks, with the last victim finally feeling better this Tuesday (three days ago). It lasted 3-4 days per person, and sounds like no fun at all. My gut feeling is that we should cancel, as I am not keen on exposing DH, DD and myself to the potential misery of gastroenteritis. In fact, I am a total vomit-phobe, and will do anything to avoid contracting such a bug. Is there an "official" rule on how long a person remains contagious after a virus like this? I don't want to take ANY chances!

DS once had something like that and his ped said that he was contagious as long as he had diarrhea. If they are all well as of Tuesday, I would think that the visit should be fine.

In general, once the fever is gone you are no longer contagious from a virus.

HTH

Imperia

The CDC has guidelines for it, in general, And I believe it's something like 3 days from the last episode.

I'll go look ....

3 days....yup

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/revb/...rovirus-qa.htm

From the article:

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.

[LucyG]

Are they airborne, by contact only, both or some other way? Thanks for the tips so far!

Someone recently posted in the "bitching post" that rotavirus can be contagious for 10 days after symptoms have ceased. I don't know ANYONE who keeps their kids and themselves home for 10 days after diarrhea has stopped, but I did read that those viruses can linger for weeks on surfaces, so I suppose that could be right. Ugh.

Elizabeth, Mom to James, 9-20-02
EDD #2, 10-30-04