Good to Gather? Find Out if You’re Still Contagious

Cold weather ushers in Thanksgiving feasts, holiday cheer, parties with friends and family — and the common cold and flu. That’s because these viruses appear to spread more easily in colder, less humid air. With all the indoor socializing during the colder months of the year, from family gatherings to office parties, it’s essential to know how long you may be contagious after getting sick so you don’t infect others. 

 

Below are some common illnesses that you or your loved ones may experience during the colder months, as well as how long you’re considered contagious with each. 

 

What is it? Influenza, or the flu, is a respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It impacts the nose, throat and sometimes the lungs. 

What are the symptoms? Fever, sore throat, cough, runny nose, headache, fatigue and body aches, often starting suddenly. Some people also experience diarrhea and vomiting, but these two symptoms appear more often in children than in adults. 

 How does it spread? In droplets from an infected person talking, sneezing or coughing. Sometimes, though less common, a person can contract the flu after touching an object or a surface with traces of the flu virus on it, and then touching their eyes, nose or mouth. The most effective way to avoid getting the flu is to get the flu vaccine every year. 

How do I stop the spread? Practice good hand hygiene, stay at home when you’re sick, cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze, and wear a mask during high-risk times or in public places.

How long am I contagious? You’re the most contagious within the first three to four days of illness. People with the flu can be contagious for up to seven days after becoming sick. 

Bottom line: If you have the flu, you should stay away from others for up to a week to avoid spreading it. 

 

What is it? The common cold is mostly caused by rhinoviruses and tends to be milder than the flu.

What are the symptoms? Runny nose, coughing, sneezing and a congested nasal cavity, often with gradual onset. 

How does it spread? In droplets from an infected person talking, sneezing or coughing. Rhinoviruses can also spread via shaking hands or hugging. 

How do I stop the spread? Practice good hand hygiene, stay at home when you’re sick, cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze, and wear a mask during high-risk times or in public places.

How long am I contagious? Symptoms of the common cold last, on average, five to seven days, but can go as long as two weeks. A person with a cold is contagious for the entire time their symptoms are present, though likely the most contagious in the first several days. 

Bottom line: Once your symptoms are gone, it’s safe to be around other people.

 

What is it? The bacteria group A Streptococcus causes strep, which can be painful. Children ages 5 to 15 years old are most prone to strep throat.

What are the symptoms? Fever, sore throat, pain when swallowing, swollen and red tonsils, swollen lymph nodes and white patches on the tonsils. 

How does it spread? In droplets from an infected person talking, sneezing or coughing, and direct contact with someone who’s infected. 

How do I stop the spread? Practice good hand hygiene, stay at home when you’re sick, cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze, and wear a mask during high-risk times or in public places.

How long am I contagious? Symptoms manifest two to five days after exposure to group A Streptococcus. After 24 hours of antibiotics, people are no longer infectious. Someone with untreated strep throat can infect those around them for two to three weeks. 

Bottom line: If you have strep throat, your treatment will dictate how long you should wait before interacting with others. 

 

What is it? Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that causes vomiting and diarrhea. 

What are the symptoms? Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach pain.

How does it spread? By direct contact with an infected person, eating or drinking something contaminated with norovirus, or touching a contaminated surface or object and then touching your mouth. Norovirus is highly contagious, and a small amount of virus can cause infection. 

How do I stop the spread? Practice good hand hygiene, stay at home when you’re sick, cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze, and wear a mask during high-risk times or in public places.

How long am I contagious? The entire time you have symptoms and the first few days you feel better. Once you have been without vomiting or diarrhea for 48 hours, you are unlikely to be contagious.

Bottom line: Stay away from others while you’re sick and for the first two days you’re symptom-free. 

 

What is it? COVID-19 is a respiratory illness caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2. 

What are the symptoms? COVID-19 causes a wide range of symptoms. Those can include fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, loss of taste and smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Most people experience mild to moderate upper respiratory symptoms, but the disease can cause some people to become seriously ill, and some people can have prolonged complications.

How does it spread? In droplets from an infected person talking, sneezing or coughing. Someone infected with COVID-19 can spread it even if they don’t have symptoms.

How do I stop the spread? Stay up to date on COVID-19 vaccines and boosters, practice good hand hygiene, stay at home when you’re sick, cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze, and wear a mask during high-risk times or in public places.

How long am I contagious? If you test positive for COVID-19, you’re most infectious during the first five days with the illness and should stay at home and isolate. If you have no symptoms after day five, you can end isolation. If you’re going to be around others at high risk of severe illness or complications from COVID — for example, someone on cancer treatment — you are safest if you stay away for seven to 10 days or wear a mask. If you still have COVID-19 symptoms after day five, you should continue to isolate until your symptoms are improving and you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication. 

 If you were exposed to COVID-19, you could develop symptoms up to 10 days after the exposure, so you should take precautions such as avoiding contact with those who are likely to get very sick from COVID-19. 

Bottom line: Regardless of when you end isolation, avoid those who could experience severe illness with COVID-19 until at least day 11.

 

What is it? Hand, foot and mouth disease is a common childhood illness caused by a group of highly contagious viruses. It’s especially common in children under 5 years old. Adults can get sick with hand, foot and mouth, too.

What are the symptoms? Rashes on the hands and feet, mouth sores, fever and flu-like symptoms. 

How does it spread? Via person-to-person contact, contact with contaminated surfaces, and in droplets from someone sick with the virus sneezing or talking. 

How do I stop the spread? Practice good hand hygiene, stay at home when you’re sick, cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze, and wear a mask during high-risk times or in public places.

How long am I contagious? People with hand, foot and mouth get better on their own in seven to 10 days. People are contagious for about seven days, as long as they are still getting new rash spots on their skin or in their mouth.

Bottom line: If you have hand, foot and mouth, you should stay away from others until you feel better and your rash and/or sores are healed.   

 

What is it? Whooping cough is a serious illness caused by bacteria and is most dangerous for infants. 

What are the symptoms? Early symptoms resemble the common cold: runny nose, low-grade fever and mild coughing. Later symptoms include coughing fits, vomiting after coughing and difficulty breathing. 

How does it spread? Whooping cough can last for weeks or up to months. Typically, symptoms will appear five to 10 days after encountering the bacteria that causes it. The most effective way to protect yourself against whooping cough is by getting vaccinated. 

How do I stop the spread? Practice good hand hygiene, stay at home when you’re sick, cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze, and wear a mask during high-risk times or in public places.

How long am I contagious? Whooping cough is typically treated with antibiotics, and after five full days of treatment, people are no longer able to spread the illness. Without antibiotics, people can be contagious for three weeks.

Bottom line: If you’re taking antibiotics, wait five days before seeing others.

 

Learn the differences in symptoms of common illnesses and how to keep you and those around you safe.

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