What used to be a predictable “cold and flu season” has evolved into a formidable “triple threat” of the flu, RSV, and COVID-19—and now, the highly contagious norovirus is joining the headlines. For many families, the challenge isn’t just managing symptoms, but understanding how to tell these “bugs” apart and, more importantly, how to stop them from entering the home in the first place.
To navigate this “new normal,” BlackDoctor sat down with Dr. Jen Caudle, a family physician with over 17 years of experience and a beloved health advocate followed by millions on social media. As a frontline doctor who views prevention as the “bread and butter” of her practice, Dr. Caudle is on a mission to simplify the science of staying healthy. To help families protect themselves, Dr. Caudle is partnering with Clorox to share essential prevention strategies.
According to Dr. Caudle, the flu, RSV, and COVID are all respiratory viruses that impact our nose, respiratory tract, and lungs. Norovirus, on the other hand, causes gastroenteritis—the classic “stomach bug.”
“Sometimes we call that the ‘cruise ship virus’ because it’s a virus that can really run rampant in close spaces, whether kids are at camp or what have you,” she explains, noting that the illness causes symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Fortunately, there are proactive steps we can take to minimize the transfer of infectious agents. This includes using disinfectant wipes, like Clorox Disinfecting Wipes, which kill 99.9% of bacteria and viruses on hard, nonporous surfaces—including cold and flu viruses, RSV, and COVID-19.
For Norovirus specifically, the CDC considers bleach the most effective disinfecting agent. Clorox Clean-Up Cleaner + Bleach can help tackle these hardy germs when used as directed on hard, non-porous surfaces. Dr. Caudle emphasizes that disinfection is a year-round necessity: “The Clorox Disinfecting Wipes are good for year-round, even for those of us who may catch a bug in the summertime.”
That 20-second hand wash rule we all followed during the pandemic? Dr. Caudle says it remains a gold standard for keeping germs at bay.
“I really want to encourage people to wash your hands 20 seconds—you want to sing the ‘Happy Birthday’ song twice. It really is about getting that good lather; you want to get underneath the fingernails, really get between the fingers, and use soap to instill that in your family. That is definitely something that we don’t always see,” she advises.
She also cautions against replacing hand washing with hand sanitizer. While sanitizer is a good backup when you aren’t near a sink, it should not be your first option—especially since hand sanitizer does not work effectively against Norovirus.
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Beyond hygiene, Dr. Caudle is a strong advocate for holistic measures to prevent illness. “Our immune system is there to help fight off bugs and intruders, but it sort of needs gas in the tank to operate optimally,” she notes.
She shares four pillars of immunity to help strengthen the body’s natural defenses:
Finally, Dr. Caudle encourages patients not to hesitate to contact their healthcare provider. Many people dismiss their symptoms as “just a cold,” but a professional diagnosis is vital.
“If you have certain viruses, you may qualify for certain treatments,” she says. “The real message here is: if you’re sick, don’t hesitate to touch base with your doctor because there may be things that we can do to help you that you may not think about on your own.”
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