Sometimes it’s called the stomach flu or food poisoning, but the norovirus, a common ailment especially this time of year, typically works its way through the population each winter.

It probably won’t kill you but the norovirus will sicken you for a few days. Stomach cramps, often severe, on top of diarrhea and vomiting, are the most common symptoms.

State officials cited in a Detroit Free Press story say symptoms can start as early as 12 hours after exposure to the virus or as late as 72 hours.

Symptoms usually last one to three days. In most cases, individuals fully recover without medical attention.

It’s exceedingly easy to catch this bug through person-to-person contact or through contaminated surfaces or food.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest the following, common sense things you can do to avoid the norovirus:

– Wash your hands. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water, especially after using the toilet and changing diapers and always before eating or preparing food.

– Handle and prepare food safely. Carefully wash fruits and vegetables, and cook oysters and other shellfish thoroughly before eating. If you are sick with norovirus, do not prepare food for others while you have symptoms and for at least two days after symptoms go away.

– Clean and disinfect surfaces. After you vomit or have diarrhea, immediately clean up the entire area using a bleach-based household cleaner as directed on the product label. If no such cleaning product is available, you can use a solution made with 5 tablespoons to 1.5 cups of household bleach per 1 gallon of water.

– Wash laundry thoroughly. Immediately remove and wash clothing or linens that may have vomit or feces on it. Handle items carefully-try not to agitate them. If available, wear disposable gloves to handle soiled clothing or linens, and wash your hands after. Wash soiled items with detergent and hot water at the maximum available cycle length then machine dry them at the highest heat setting.

As many as 20 million people get the norovirus annually. As with most things medical, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.