Norovirus

Why in news?

• At least 13 people have been found infected with Norovirus in Kerala’s Wayanad district.

About Norovirus (NoV):

• Norovirus are a group of viruses that cause gastrointestinal illness.
• It causes inflammation of the lining of the stomach and intestines, as well as severe vomiting and diarrhoea. 
• It is a bug similar to the diarrhoea-inducing rotavirus
• The virus does not significantly affect healthy people, but it can be serious in young children, the elderly, and those with other comorbidities.
• Noroviruses are a genetically diverse group of single-stranded positive-sense RNA, non-enveloped viruses belonging to the family Caliciviridae.

Transmission

• Norovirus is highly contagious, and can be transmitted through contaminated food, water, and surfaces. The primary route is oral-faecal
• It can also be spread through direct contact with infected individuals

How common is Norovirus infection?

• The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that about one out of every five cases of acute gastroenteritis worldwide is caused by Norovirus.
• Nearly 50,000 children die every year due to diarrhoea caused by the virus.

Treatment

• There is no vaccine or specific treatment for norovirus
• The disease is self-limiting — the infection normally lasts only two or three days.
• Most individuals who are not very young, very old, or malnourished can ride it out with sufficient rest and hydration.

Add ons:

• Norovirus is resistant to many disinfectants and heat up to 60°C.
• Therefore, merely steaming food or chlorinating water does not kill the virus.
• The virus can also survive many common hand sanitisers. This is due to Norovirus being a non-enveloped virus.

PRACTICE QUESTION:

With reference to ‘Norovirus’, consider the following statements:

1. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are not effective against the Norovirus

2. The virus is usually spread by the fecal–oral route

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer