How gastroenteritis is spread

The bugs that cause gastroenteritis can spread very easily from person to person.

You can catchthe infectionif small particles of vomit or poo from an infected person get into your mouth, such as through:

  • close contact with someone withgastroenteritis they may breathe out small particles of vomit
  • touching contaminated surfaces or objects
  • eating contaminated food this can happen if an infected person doesn't wash their hands before handling food, or you eat food that has been in contact with contaminated surfaces or objects, or hasn't been stored and cooked at the correct temperatures (read more about the causes of food poisoning )

A person withgastroenteritis is most infectious from when their symptoms start until48 hours after all their symptoms have passed, although they may also be infectious for a short time before and after this.

Content supplied by the NHS Website

Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018