From the Guidelines

Yes, norovirus can cause acute gastroenteritis.

Norovirus is a leading cause of acute gastroenteritis, responsible for approximately 21 million illnesses annually in the United States 1.
The virus can cause symptoms such as nonbloody diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and abdominal cramps, typically beginning after an incubation period of 12-48 hours 1.
Norovirus is the most common cause of epidemic gastroenteritis, accounting for at least 50% of all gastroenteritis outbreaks worldwide 1.
The virus can be transmitted through food, water, and contaminated environmental surfaces, as well as directly from person to person 1.
Outbreaks can occur in various settings, including nursing homes, hospitals, schools, and communities, and can affect people of all ages 1.
According to the 2017 IDSA guidelines, norovirus and Salmonella enterica subspecies are the leading pathogens among the 24 gastroenteritis pathogens transmissible by food, with norovirus exceeding Salmonella enterica subspecies as a cause of illness 1.

From the Research

Norovirus is a leading cause of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) worldwide, affecting all age groups 2, 3, 4, 5.
The virus is highly contagious and can be spread directly from person to person or indirectly through contaminated food and water 3, 5.
Norovirus infections can cause severe symptoms, including diarrhea, vomiting, fever, headache, and stomach pain, and can lead to dehydration and electrolyte imbalance 3, 5.

A systematic review and meta-analysis found that the pooled prevalence of norovirus in patients with acute gastroenteritis was 18% (95% CI 17-20) 2.
Another study found that the global norovirus prevalence in under-5 years, ≥5 years, and mixed age was similar (16% - 19%) 3.
Norovirus prevalence was found to be higher in community and outpatient settings compared to inpatient settings 2.

Norovirus outbreaks often lack confirmation by diagnostic testing, but clinical and epidemiologic profiles can be used to distinguish norovirus outbreaks from those caused by bacteria 4.
The Kaplan criteria, which include vomiting in >50% of cases, mean incubation period of 24-48 hours, mean duration of illness for 12-60 hours, and negative bacterial stool culture, can be used to identify norovirus outbreaks 4.
An alternate profile, which includes the ratio of proportion of cases with fever to the proportion of cases with vomiting <1, proportion of cases with bloody stool <0.1, and proportion of cases with vomiting ≥0.26, was found to be more sensitive and specific for distinguishing norovirus outbreaks from nonviral outbreaks 4.

Norovirus can be detected in saliva samples from individuals with acute gastroenteritis, particularly in those aged ≥65 years old 6.
The detection of norovirus in saliva raises the possibility of oral-to-oral transmission during the symptomatic phase and, although to a lesser extent, even in cases of asymptomatic infections 6.
Individuals who were positive for norovirus in saliva showed higher levels of virus shedding in stool 6.