Can Norovirus Spread Through Breathing On A Surface?

Posted on Mon, 15 Mar 2021

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Mon, 15 Mar 2021 Answered on

Fri, 7 Feb 2025 Last reviewed on

Question : can norovirus spread through breathing on a surface, like the cold? do i need to sanitize everything a sick person may%E2%80%99ve breathed on or only what they touched?

Answered by Dr. Olgeta Xhufka (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
You have to disinfect it.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Of course you have to clean every surface a person with norovirus has breathed on.
There can be saliva particles coming out during breathing and virus can be found in that surface area.
It is highly contagious so you have to disinfect every surface he has breathed on and every other thing he may have used.

Hope I have answered the question.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana

Follow up: Dr. Olgeta Xhufka (1 hour later)

so if he went into the kitchen briefly do i need to sanitize every single surface and appliance and dish / plate that he may have breathed on?

Answered by Dr. Olgeta Xhufka (22 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
See details below.

Detailed Answer:
Hello dear and thank you for asking again.
You may need to sanitize every dish he may have touched or may have put his face near it. That what I can understand with may have breathed on.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana