Norovirus can survive quite well on surfaces, bathroom fixtures, countertops, doorknobs and any other items commonly touched. Many typical household cleaners cannot kill the virus or eradicate it from those surfaces. The best solution is to clean such areas with appropriately diluted bleach.

A surge in norovirus cases might be explained by a new strain of the virus, which now reportedly makes up a majority of outbreaks across the U.S. This winter’s dominant norovirus strain is a newer variant called the G11.