While they’re convenient when you’re on the go, hand sanitizers will not kill norovirus, per the CDC. “The alcohol in them can’t just penetrate and disrupt this virus,” says William Schaffner, M.D., an infectious disease specialist and professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.

As the norovirus cases continue to spread in the U.S., you can't rely on hand sanitizer alone to protect you, experts warn.Norovirus causes gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramps.