How long is strep throat contagious?

Strep throat is contagious for 24 hours after the affected person begins taking antibiotics, according to WebMD. Sore throat pain, the main symptom of strep throat, normally dissipates 24 to 36 hours after the patient begins taking antibiotics.

Thomas Weida, M.D. explains that strep throat germs are passed from an infected person to others via direct contact, coughing, sneezing and kissing. Hand washing helps minimize the possibility that strep germs are passed to others as does covering the mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing. Strep germs also pass to others via inanimate objects, such as door knobs, silverware and glassware, so thorough cleaning of these objects decreases the chances of strep transmission.