Norovirus

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Part of: Prelims and GS-II – Health

Context Recently, several cases of Norovirus have been reported in the state of Kerala.

About Norovirus

It is the most common cause of gastroenteritis.
It is a bug similar to the diarrhoea-inducing rotavirus and it infects people across age groups.
Disease outbreaks typically occur aboard cruise ships, in nursing homes, dormitories, and other closed spaces.
The initial symptoms: vomiting and/or diarrhoea, which show up one or two days after exposure to the virus.
- Nausea, abdominal pain, fever, headaches and body aches.
- In extreme cases, loss of fluids could lead to dehydration.
It normally lasts only two or three days.
It is highly contagious, and can be transmitted through contaminated food, water, and surfaces. The primary route is oral-faecal.
It is resistant to many disinfectants and heat up to 60°C. The virus can also survive many common hand sanitisers.
About one out of every five cases of acute gastroenteritis worldwide is caused by Norovirus.
Diagnosis is done by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.
No vaccines are available for the disease.

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