Will hand sanitizer kill norovirus

Answer 1

The facts and fiction re: alcohol based hand sanitizers. Unless the manufacturer is providing an independent lab test re: the two most common strains of norovirus (feline and murene), you should remain skeptical i.e. the kill claims. Murene strain is extraordinarily difficult to conduct tests for, and very very few manufacturers of hand sanitizers have been able to demonstrate that 62% alcohol could possibly be effective against Norovirus. Alcohol does not penetrate dirty hands. Alcohol evaporates in high temperatures. Alcohol breaks up when stored in high temperatures (which would suggest that it is rendered ineffective). There is a new product on the market, alcohol-free that comes with third party test results i.e. both strains of norovirus. Its very expensive--3x-4x any other hand sanitizer--but the financial cost of a norovirus outbreak on a cruise ship or a hotel is hundreds of thousands of dollars per day. Will hand sanitizers actually prevent a norovirus outbreak? That remains to be seen. Can hand sanitizers mitigate the spread of norovirus? Yes.

Answer 2

Yes, according to the CDC (US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) if it has a minimum content of 60% alcohol, as many commercial hand sanitizers do, and if you follow the label directions for use exactly as indicated.

More:

Since a virus is not actually a living organism, they can't technically be "killed". However, hand sanitizers have been shown to help prevent the spread of flu by deactivating and making them harmless and also by removing the viruses that are on your hands with friction when used properly.

Influenza viruses are also destroyed by heat (normal cooking temperatures: 167-212°F [75-100°C]) . In addition, several chemical germicides, including chlorine, hydrogen peroxide, detergents (soap), iodophors (iodine-based antiseptics), and alcohols are effective against human influenza viruses if used in proper concentration for a sufficient length of time.