The unexpected way norovirus can spread through your household

Stomach bugs are pretty common this time of year, but health officials confirm California, including Los Angeles, is experiencing elevated norovirus activity.

These types of viruses can spread in a way you might not realize. Mistakes you make with your laundry could be a source of transmission.

Wastewater reveals a new highly-contagious subvariant called GII.17 could be driving this trend.

The virus is spread through the fecal-oral route. We often blame tainted food, but doctors say your laundry could also be a source of transmission.

“If you are actively sick with diarrhea or some kind of a GI-related condition, go ahead and separate those clothes from other healthy people in the household,” said Emergency Medicine specialist Dr. Ali Jamehdor with Dignity Health St. Mary’s Hospital in Long Beach.

Some people let clothes sit in the hamper for weeks. He said that diarrhea-causing E. coli and salmonella can live that long in your laundry bin.

“Things are happening in the hamper. They love growing. The bacteria and viruses love growing and multiplying,” he said.

Staphylococcus aureus, which causes skin infections, may survive a month in a moist hamper. He recommends a short washing cycle with bleach after an especially germy load.

Experts say underwear contains the most germs, followed by children’s clothing.

Jamehdor suggests everyone with kids do their laundry separately from theirs. And do you wash your hands after you load laundry?

“You know. I don’t think I do. I might occasionally but it’s not something I do out of habit,” said Craig Stone of Burbank.

“You need to be cognizant of washing your hands. It’s like handling anything that’s dirty,” said Jamehdor.

Some experts also suggest drying your clothes on the highest heat cycle for at least 40 minutes.

But, Jamehdor doesn’t think any dryer reaches temperatures hot enough to kill germs.

Most importantly, clothes cannot stay damp. They need to be completely dried.

“I’m sure you’ve noticed when you take it out, it smells like mildew or has a weird smell to it. And that’s a sign that it wasn’t dried the right way, and you might need to wash your clothes again,” he said.

And don’t forget to sanitize your hamper or wash it if it’s cloth.