Other viruses have a fat-based outer layer called called an envelope, which is more easily broken down by alcohol-based hand sanitizers. Norovirus, on the other hand, is a non-enveloped virus.
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 ...
Other viruses have a fat-based outer layer called called an envelope, which is more easily broken down by alcohol-based hand sanitizers. Norovirus, on the other hand, is a non-enveloped virus.