Hand sanitizer is simply not as effective against norovirus as it at killing other pathogens due to the virus's firm shell, Dr. William Schaffner, professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, told TODAY.com recently.

Ah, the classic signs of winter: Freezing temperatures, icy roads and empty tissue boxes. It's no secret that winter is a time when illness is prominent. Coughs, colds, and viruses are seemingly running rampant this time of year. This is thanks to the drier air and an influx of time spent indoors, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Flu season is here in New Jersey, but other illnesses are in full swing in the Garden State. Here are the symptoms and how long you're contagious.

Here are some ways to prepare for this cold and flu season as four illnesses circulate the country at one time.