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Reporting norovirus

Information about the reporting, surveillance, and control of norovirus.
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About norovirus

Learn what norovirus is, how it makes you sick, how it spreads, and how you can prevent yourself and others from getting sick. 

How to report norovirus if you’re sick

Norovirus infections are reportable to public health authorities by clinical laboratories. For more information, please review regulations related to disease reporting, isolation and quarantine.

  • If you believe you are ill with norovirus and need medical help, contact your health care provider.  If your doctor orders a test that is found to be positive for norovirus, your result will be automatically reported to your local health department and DPH.  
  • If you believe you became ill with norovirus after eating food prepared outside of a private home (e.g., from a restaurant) or after attending a party or event, report your illness to public health officials by:
  • Suspected and confirmed norovirus outbreaks are reportable to public health authorities by health care providers and individuals in a supervisory position at schools, child care programs, health care facilities, camps, and other community settings.  If you are concerned there is a norovirus outbreak in your community, contact your local board of health or the DPH Division of Epidemiology at (617) 983-6800.  

Reporting suspected norovirus outbreaks  

A norovirus outbreak is defined as an increase in people experiencing diarrhea or vomiting above what is expected for a community, facility, or workplace, with regard to time and place.  Suspected and confirmed norovirus outbreaks should be reported promptly to the local board of health or DPH.

Restaurant, event, or other food exposure settings

Health care settings

Please see Norovirus information for health care facilities

Child care settings

Please see Norovirus information for child care programs and K-12 schools

For all other settings

To report a suspected norovirus outbreak at a location such as a shelter, correctional facility, or workplace:

Norovirus data

A summary of Massachusetts’ norovirus surveillance data can be found here: Foodborne and waterborne illness data

DPH reports suspected and confirmed norovirus outbreaks to CDC’s National Outbreak Reporting System (NORS).  Massachusetts data can be found in the following national surveillance data:

Requirements for certain people with norovirus

People who work in any food-related business who have norovirus must stay out of work for 72 hours after their symptoms have stopped. Food-related businesses include restaurants, sandwich shops, hospital kitchens, and grocery stores.  This also applies to people who work in schools, child care programs, residential programs, and health care facilities who feed, give mouth care, or give out medications.

For individuals who work in health care settings, please see Norovirus information for health care facilities

For individuals who work or attend child care programs and K-12 schools, please see Norovirus information for child care programs and K-12 schools

Everyone else should stay home when sick. Wait until 24 hours have passed since the last time you vomited and your diarrhea has improved. Staying home helps prevent the spread of germs.

Additional resources

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