Answer: The stomach flu viruses can live on surfaces for about 2 weeks.  My in-laws had a bad case of the stomach flu on December 18-19, 2009. They were well by December 20. They had relatives come visit for Christmas on December 26 (1 week later). 3 of the visitors came down with the same stomach flu starting about 36 hours after arriving. My in-laws never got sick again since it was the same virus they just had. So, 1 week is NOT long enough to wait. People and houses are still contagious! My family went to visit them 3.5 weeks later. (3.5 weeks after the last person vomited in their house). I was nervous and cleaned the bathrooms when no one was looking. My 2 year-old daughter had her thumb in her mouth the entire weekend we were there. Amazingly, we did not get sick. This is by no means conclusive scientific evidence, but it seems that waiting 3.5 weeks and cleaning the bathrooms is enough.
So if your family is sick, clean really well with chlorine bleach, Clorox Hydrogen Peroxide wipes, Lysol Disinfectant spray or some other product that claims to kill norovirus. Feel free to read my page dedicated to cleaning products that kill norovirus. Please be responsible and do not have company for 2 weeks after everyone is well. If you do have a guest, make sure you warn them of the risks and don't feel bad if they want to postpone their visit. I am sticking with my policy of not going to other people's houses until they have been well for 3 weeks after a stomach flu.  --Annie Pryor, Ph.D.
|