--- title: Who is most susceptible to catching Norovirus date: 2022-01-11T16:20:00-08:00 author: Bill Marler canonical_url: "https://marlerclark.com/news_events/who-is-most-susceptible-to-catching-norovirus" section: News --- [All News](/news_events) / [Case News](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news) / # Who is most susceptible to catching Norovirus Nature has created an ingenious bug in norovirus. The round blue ball structure of norovirus is a protein surrounding the virus’s genetic material. The virus attaches to the outside of cells lining the intestine, and then transfers its genetic material into those cells. Once the genetic material has been transferred, norovirus reproduces, finally killing the human cells and releasing new copies of itself that attach to more cells of the intestine’s lining. Norovirus causes nearly 60% of all foodborne illness outbreaks. Norovirus is transmitted primarily through the fecal-oral route, with fewer than 100 norovirus particles needed to cause infection. Transmission occurs either person-to-person or through contamination of food or water. CDC statistics show that food is the most common vehicle of transmission for noroviruses; of 232 outbreaks of norovirus between July 1997 and June 2000, 57% were foodborne, 16% were spread from person-to-person, and 3% were waterborne. When food is the vehicle of transmission, contamination occurs most often through a food handler improperly handling a food directly before it is eaten. Infected individuals shed the virus in large numbers in their vomit and stool, shedding the highest number of viral particles while they are ill. Aerosolized vomit has also been implicated as a mode of norovirus transmission. Previously, it was thought that viral shedding ceased approximately 100 hours after infection; however, some individuals continue to shed norovirus long after they have recovered from it, in some cases up to 28 days after experiencing symptoms. Viral shedding can also precede symptoms, which occurs in approximately 30% of cases. Often, an infected food handler may not even show symptoms. In these cases, people can carry the same viral load as those who do experience symptoms. [Marler Clark, The Food Safety Law Firm](http://www.marlerclark.com/), is the nation’s leading law firm representing victims of [Norovirus](http://www.about-norovirus.com/) outbreaks. The [Norovirus lawyers](https://marlerclark.com/food-litigation/norovirus-outbreak-litigation) of Marler Clark have represented thousands of victims of [Norovirus](http://www.about-norovirus.com/) and other foodborne illness outbreaks and have recovered over $800 million for clients. Marler Clark is the only law firm in the nation with a practice focused exclusively on foodborne illness litigation. Our [Norovirus](http://www.about-norovirus.com/) lawyers have litigated [Norovirus](http://www.about-norovirus.com/) cases stemming from outbreaks traced to a number of food products and restaurants. If you or a family member became ill with [Norovirus](http://www.about-norovirus.com/) after consuming food and you’re interested in pursuing a legal claim, contact the Marler Clark [Norovirus](http://www.about-norovirus.com/) attorneys for a free case evaluation. ### Other Norovirus Lawsuits [240 with Norovirus linked to Sushi Nine](https://marlerclark.com/240-with-norovirus-linked-to-sushi-nine) [Norovirus Outbreak Tied to Illinois Restaurant Monical's Pizza](https://marlerclark.com/norovirus-outbreak-tied-to-illinois-restaurant-monicals-pizza) [CDC now reports Norovirus Oyster Outbreak growing - 192 ill in United States](https://marlerclark.com/norovirus-outbreak-linked-to-raw-oysters-sickens-hundreds) [23 sickened in Norovirus Outbreak linked to Habit Burger Grill in Washington State](https://marlerclark.com/23-sickened-in-norovirus-outbreak-linked-to-habit-burger-grill-in-washington) [Arby's Norovirus Outbreak Sickens Nearly 100 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Illness Lawsuits in 2000](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2000) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2001](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2001) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2002](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2002) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2003](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2003) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2004](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2004) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2005](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2005) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2006](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2006) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2007](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2007) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2008](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2008) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2009](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2009) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2010](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2010) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2011](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2011) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2012](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2012) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2013](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2013) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2014](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2014) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2015](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2015) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2016](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2016) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2017](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2017) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2018](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2018) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2019](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2019) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2020](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2020) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2021](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2021) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2022](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2022) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2023](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2023) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2024](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2024) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2025](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2025) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2026](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2026) ##### Get Help #### Affected by an outbreak or recall? The team at Marler Clark is here to answer all your questions. Find out if you’re eligible for a lawsuit, what questions to ask your doctor, and more. [ Get a free consultation ](https://marlerclark.com/contact) ##### Related Resources ###### [Norovirus Food Poisoning](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/norovirus/about-norwalk) What is Norovirus? When someone talks about having “the stomach flu,” they are probably describing acute-onset gastroenteritis caused by one of the noroviruses, which are members of the “calcivirus” family... ###### [Symptoms and Risks of Norovirus Infection](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/norovirus/norwalk-symptoms-risks) Norovirus causes a relatively short, intense illness characterized by nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal cramping. The most common symptoms are sudden onset of vomiting and watery diarrhea, although stomach cramps... ###### [How is Norovirus Infection Diagnosed?](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/norovirus/norwalk-diagnosis) Norovirus can be detected in an infected person’s stool or vomit through laboratory testing. Diagnosis of norovirus illness is based on the combination of symptoms, particularly the prominence of vomiting... ###### [Treatment for Norovirus Infection](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/norovirus/norwalk-treatment) Norovirus typically resolves without treatment; however, dehydration is a concern. Collecting a stool sample and using molecular methods to find viral RNA is the preferred method to test for norovirus... ###### [Preventing Norovirus Infection](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/norovirus/norwalk-prevention) Norovirus infection can be prevented through attention to proper sanitation and cooking procedures. The role of food handlers has been documented substantially, highlighting that keeping ill food handlers out of... ##### Outbreak Database #### Looking for a comprehensive list of outbreaks? The team at Marler Clark is here to answer all your questions. Find out if you’re eligible for a lawsuit, what questions to ask your doctor, and more. [ View Outbreak Database ](https://outbreakdatabase.com)