? Norwalk virus
Virus classification
Family: Caliciviridae Genus: Norovirus Species: Norwalk virus

Norwalk virus is the prototype virus of the genus Norovirus of the family Caliciviridae. Norovirus is an emerging virus and recent scientific findings reveal that it causes around 50% of all gastroenteritis (stomach pain, diarrhea, and vomiting) around the world. It is therefore now the most important virus associated with this condition. Noroviruses contain a positive strand RNA genome of approximately 7.5 kbp, encoding a major structural protein (VP1) of about 60 kDa and a minor capsid protein (VP2). The virus particles demonstrate an amorphous surface structure when visualized using electron microscopy and are between 27-38 nm in size. Noroviruses can genetically be classified into 5 different genogroups (GI, GII, GIII, GIV, and GV) which can be further divided into different genetic groups or genotypes. For example genogroup II, the most prevalent human genogroup, presently contains 19 genotypes. Genogroups I, II and IV infect humans, whereas genogroup III infects bovine species and genogroup V has recently been isolated in mice. http://www. ... Virus classification involves naming and placing viruses into a taxonomic system. ... Genera Vesivirus Lagovirus Norovirus Sapovirus The Caliciviridae are a family of viruses, including the following genera: Genus Vesivirus; type species: Swine vesicular exanthema virus Genus Lagovirus; type species: Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus Genus Norovirus; type species: Norwalk virus Genus Sapovirus; type species: Sapporo virus Categories: Viruses | Virus stubs ... Groups I: dsDNA viruses II: ssDNA viruses III: dsRNA viruses IV: (+)ssRNA viruses V: (-)ssRNA viruses VI: ssRNA-RT viruses VII: dsDNA-RT viruses A virus is a microscopic particle (ranging in size from 20 - 300 nm) that can infect the cells of a biological organism. ... For other uses of the word, please see Genus (disambiguation). ... In biological classification, family (Latin: familia, plural familiae) is 1) a rank or 2) a taxon in that rank. ... Genera Vesivirus Lagovirus Norovirus Sapovirus The Caliciviridae are a family of viruses, including the following genera: Genus Vesivirus; type species: Swine vesicular exanthema virus Genus Lagovirus; type species: Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus Genus Norovirus; type species: Norwalk virus Genus Sapovirus; type species: Sapporo virus Categories: Viruses | Virus stubs ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... In biology the genome of an organism is the whole hereditary information of an organism that is encoded in the DNA (or, for some viruses, RNA). ... Base pairs, of a DNA molecule. ... A representation of the 3D structure of myoglobin, showing coloured alpha helices. ... Possible meanings: Kachin Defense Army Kentucky Distillers Association Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace This page expands a three-character combination which might be any or all of: an abbreviation, an acronym, an initialism, a word in English, or a word in another language. ... A capsid is the outer shell of a virus. ... An amorphous solid is a solid in which there is no long-range order of the positions of the atoms. ... The electron microscope is a microscope that can magnify very small details with high resolving power due to the use of electrons rather than light to scatter off material, magnifying at levels up to 500,000 times. ... The metre, or meter (symbol: m) is the SI base unit of length. ... The genotype is the specific genetic genome of an individual, in the form of DNA. It is basically ones DNA including the influence of environmental variation, it codes for the phenotype of that individual. ... Tribes Bovini Boselaphini Strepsicerotini The biological subfamily Bovinae (or bovines) includes a diverse group of about 24 species of medium-sized to large ungulates, including domestic cattle, Bison, the Water Buffalo, the Yak, and the four-horned and spiral-horned antelopes. ...

Historically, noroviruses have been named after the places where the outbreaks occurred, e.g., Norwalk, Ohio, where in November 1968 an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis occurred among children at an elementary school. In 1972, immune electron microscopy on saved stool samples identified the virus, which was called Norwalk virus. Numerous outbreaks with similar symptoms have been reported since and after initially being grouped as "Small Round-Structured Viruses". The cloning and sequencing of the Norwalk virus genome showed that these viruses have a genomic organization consistent with viruses belonging to the family Caliciviridae. Norwalk is a city in Huron County, Ohio, United States. ... Gastroenteritis involves diarrhea or vomiting, with noninflammatory infection of the upper small bowel, or inflammatory infection of the colon, both part of the gastrointestinal tract. ... A large elementary school in Magome, Japan. ... Human feces Human faeces, also known as stools, vary significantly in appearance, depending on the state of the whole digestive system, influenced by diet and health. ... Cloning is the process of creating an identical copy of something. ... In genetics and biochemistry, sequencing means to determine the primary structure (or primary sequence) of an unbranched biopolymer. ... Genera Vesivirus Lagovirus Norovirus Sapovirus The Caliciviridae are a family of viruses, including the following genera: Genus Vesivirus; type species: Swine vesicular exanthema virus Genus Lagovirus; type species: Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus Genus Norovirus; type species: Norwalk virus Genus Sapovirus; type species: Sapporo virus Categories: Viruses | Virus stubs ...

Norovirus classification is based upon numbering genogroups with Roman numerals (I, II or IV for human strains) and genotypes with numbers. For example, virus strains of genogroup II, genotype 4, are classified as a GII.4. GII.4 viruses account for the majority of adult outbreaks of gastroenteritis and often sweep across the globe. Recent examples include US95/96-US strain, associated with global outbreaks in the mid- to late-90s, Farmington Hills virus associated with outbreaks in Europe and the United States in 2002 and in 2004 Hunter virus was associated with outbreaks in Europe, Japan and Australiasia. Last year (2006) there was another large increase in NoV infection around the globe. Two new GII.4 variants caused around 80% of those norovirus associated outbreaks and they have been termed 2006a and 2006b. Roman numerals are a numeral system originating in ancient Rome, adapted from Etruscan numerals. ... Farmington Hills is a city located in Oakland County, Michigan. ... This article is 150 kilobytes or more in size. ... This article is 150 kilobytes or more in size. ... Australasia Australasia is a term variably used to describe a region of Oceania: Australia, New Zealand, and neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean. ...

Nature of acute disease

Common names of the illness caused by noroviruses (previously called Norwalk-like viruses) are winter vomiting disease, viral gastroenteritis, acute nonbacterial gastroenteritis, (incorrectly) food poisoning, and (in American slang) stomach flu. The virus can cause symptoms such as stomach pain, diarrhea, and vomiting in humans, as well as general lethargy, weakness, and muscle aches. Winter Vomiting Virus is the name of a form of viral gastroenteritis which often becomes frequent in the United Kingdom, particularly in winter. ... Gastroenteritis involves diarrhea or vomiting, with noninflammatory infection of the upper small bowel, or inflammatory infection of the colon, both part of the gastrointestinal tract. ... Gastroenteritis involves diarrhea or vomiting, with noninflammatory infection of the upper small bowel, or inflammatory infection of the colon, both part of the gastrointestinal tract. ... A foodborne illness (also foodborne disease) is any illness resulting from the consumption of contaminated food. ... Gastroenteritis, or inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, is an illness of fever, diarrhoea and/or vomiting caused by an infectious virus, bacterium or parasite. ...

Nature of disease

The disease is usually self-limiting, and characterized by nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Headache and low-grade fever may occur. Symptoms may persist for several days and may become life-threatening in the young, the elderly, and the immune-compromised if dehydration is ignored or not treated. In biology, a self-limiting organism or colony of organisms limits its own growth by its actions. ... For the Beck song, see Nausea (song). ... Types 5-7 on the Bristol Stool Chart are often associated with diarrhea Diarrhea (in American English) or diarrhoea (in British English) is a generally unpleasant condition in which the sufferer has frequent watery, loose bowel movements (from the ancient Greek word διαρροή = leakage; literally meaning to run through). Acute infectious... Dehydration (hypohydration) is the removal of water (hydro in ancient Greek) from an object. ...

Diagnosis of human illness

Specific diagnosis of norovirus is routinely made by broadly reactive conventional PCR assays which more recently were replaced by real-time (RT)PCR assays, which give results within a few hours. Furthermore, these assays are very sensitive and can detect concentrations as low as 10 virus particles per assay. Less technically demanding assays such as ELISA assays based on antibodies against a cocktail of different virus-like particles are commercially available but have been reported to lack both specificity and sensitivity. Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... An assay is a procedure where the concentration of a component part of a mixture is determined. ... Virus like particles (VLPs) consist of viral protein(s) derived from the structural proteins of a virus. ...

Prevention and infection control

Hand washing remains an effective method to reduce the spread of norovirus pathogens. Norovirus can be aerosolized when those stricken with the illness vomit. Surface sanitizing is recommended in areas where the norovirus may be present on surfaces. Schoolchildren washing their hands before eating lunch. ... A pathogen or infectious agent is a biological agent that causes disease or illness to its host. ... http://visibleearth. ...

Though alcohol has been proven to be an effective sanitizer against other viruses, the CDC recommends using alcohol-based sanitizers in conjunction with hand washing to reduce the spread of norovirus. In healthcare environments, the prevention of nosocomial infections involve routine and terminal cleaning. Nonflammable alcohol vapor in CO2 systems or sodium hypochlorite are frequently used to sanitize rooms occupied by patients with norovirus symptoms. Isopropyl alcohol (also isopropanol or rubbing alcohol) is a common name for propan-2-ol, a colorless, flammable chemical compound with a strong odor. ... // Nosocomial infections are those which are a result of treatment in a hospital or hospital-like setting, but secondary to the patients original condition. ... Nonflammable alcohol vapor in CO2 (NAV-CO2) systems use carbon dioxide (CO2) as a propellant to dispense concentrated alcohols in a stream of CO2 gas. ... Sodium hypochlorite is a chemical compound with the formula NaClO. A solution of sodium hypochlorite is frequently used as a disinfectant and as a bleaching agent; indeed, often it is simply called bleach, though other chemicals are sometimes given that name as well. ...

Associated foods

Norwalk gastroenteritis is transmitted by the fecal-oral route via contaminated water and foods. A CDC study of eleven outbreaks in New York State lists the suspected mode of transmission as person-to-person in seven outbreaks, foodborne in two, waterborne in one, and one unknown. The source of waterborne outbreaks may include water from municipal supplies, wells, recreational lakes, swimming pools, and the often overlooked culprit, ice machines. Many diseases can be passed when fecal particles from one host are introduced into the mouth of another potential host. ... The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia, is recognized as the leading United States agency for protecting the public health and safety of people. ... NY redirects here. ... In medicine, transmission is the passing of a disease from an infected individual or group to a previously uninfected individual or group. ...

Shellfish and salad ingredients are the foods most often implicated in Norwalk outbreaks. Ingestion of raw or insufficiently steamed clams and oysters poses a high risk for infection with the Norwalk virus. Foods other than shellfish are contaminated by ill food handlers. Cooked mussels Shellfish is a term used to describe shelled molluscs and crustaceans used as food. ... Littleneck clams; the pictured mollusks are of the species Mercenaria mercenaria. ... Crassostrea gigas, Marennes-Oléron Crassostrea gigas, Marennes-Oléron Crassostrea gigas, Marennes-Oléron, opened The name oyster is used for a number of different groups of mollusks which grow for the most part in marine or brackish water. ...

Relative frequency of disease

Only the common cold is reported more frequently than viral gastroenteritis as a cause of illness in the U.S. Although viral gastroenteritis is caused by a number of viruses, it is estimated that Norwalk viruses are responsible for about 1/3 of the cases over the 6-to-24-month age group. In developing countries the percentage of individuals who have developed immunity at an early age is very high. In the U.S. the percentage increases gradually with age, reaching 50% in the population over 18 years of age. Immunity, however, is not permanent and reinfection can occur. There is some evidence that blood types B and AB confer partial protection against symptomatic infection^[1][2]. // Acute viral nasopharyngitis, often known as the common cold, is a mild viral infectious disease of the upper respiratory system (nose and throat). ... Blood type (or blood group) is determined, in part, by the ABO blood group antigens present on red blood cells. ...

Course of disease and complications

Norovirus causes acute gastroenteritis that develops between 24 and 48 hours after exposure with a median of 33-36 h, and lasts for 24-60 hours.^[3] Severe illness is rare: although people are frequently treated in emergency rooms, they are rarely admitted to the hospital. The number of deaths from norovirus in the US is estimated to be around 300, with most of these occurring in the very young, elderly and persons with weakened immune systems.

Susceptible populations

All individuals who ingest the virus and who have not (within 24 months) had an infection with the same or related strain, are susceptible to infection and can develop the symptoms of gastroenteritis. Disease is more frequent in adults and older children than in the very young.

Detection of norovirus in foods

Routine protocols to detect norovirus (norovirus RNA) in clams and oysters by RT-PCR are being employed by most governmental laboratories such as FDA. However, routine methods to detect the virus on other food items are not readily available due to the variable nature of different food items regarding concentration and extraction of the virus with a special emphasis on removing PCR inhibitory factors.

Cruise ships

Norovirus continues to be a problem on cruise ships. In 2002, there were 25 reported outbreaks, with 2,648 passengers becoming ill from the virus.^[4] Outbreak investigations by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have shown that transmission among cruise ship passengers is almost wholly person-to-person. Cruise ship water supplies have never been implicated. Pacific Sky sails under Sydney Harbour Bridge A cruise ship or a cruise liner is a passenger ship used for pleasure voyages, where the voyage itself and the ships amenities are considered an essential part of the experience. ...

In November 2006, more than 700 passengers and crew members aboard a trans-Atlantic cruise fell ill with vomiting and diarrhea. The outbreak, believed to be norovirus, struck people aboard the Carnival Cruise Lines' Liberty, one of the world's largest cruise ships. Vomiting (also throwing up or emesis) is the forceful expulsion of the contents of ones stomach through the mouth and sometimes the nose. ... Types 5-7 on the Bristol Stool Chart are often associated with diarrhea Diarrhea (in American English) or diarrhoea (in British English) is a generally unpleasant condition in which the sufferer has frequent watery, loose bowel movements (from the ancient Greek word διαρροή = leakage; literally meaning to run through). Acute infectious... Carnival Cruise Lines is a cruise line operating a large number of cruise ships. ...

In December 2006, 384 passengers of Freedom of the Seas, the largest cruise ship in the world contracted the norovirus. At the same time, 97 passengers and 6 crew members of Sun Princess cruise ship appeared to have norovirus symptoms. Weeks earlier, 97 passengers of the same Freedom of the Seas had also contracted the virus. M/S Freedom of the Seas is a Royal Caribbean International cruise ship. ... The Sun princess is a cruise ship for the princess cruise lines. ...

In January 2007, several cases were discovered aboard the cruise-liner QE2^[5] in what the Center for Disease Control (CDC) called an "unusually large outbreak." Seventeen percent (276 out of 1,652) of the passengers on board reportedly fell ill. 28 crew members were also ill. The ship was boarded and investigated by members of the CDC while the ship was docked in Acapulco, Mexico. Because of the intensified sanitation efforts of the crew (even going so far as to sanitize poker chips in the ship's casino), the outbreak was considered well under control. The ship continued its voyage and no passengers cancelled their tickets because of the illness. The RMS Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2) is a Cunard Line ocean liner named after the earlier Cunard liner RMS Queen Elizabeth. ...

On its 1 April 2007 voyage, the Princess-owned ship Carribean Princess had at least 79 passenger and 4 crew member cases of norovirus, or Norwalk disease.

Notes

• Norwalk virus is also known as Norvovirus.

2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... February 5 is the 36th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... The Journal of Virology (J Virol or JVI; 0022-538X) is an academic journal that covers research concerning viruses, using cross-disciplinary approaches including biochemistry, biophysics, cell and molecular biology, genetics, immunology, morphology, physiology and pathogenesis. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... February 5 is the 36th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... The Cable News Network, commonly known as CNN, is a major cable television network founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... January 24 is the 24th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

References

• "Norovirus outbreak in 2 hospitals in the Unites Kingdom" BBC News, 11-April 2007.

• "Sea Sick -- Infection Outbreaks Challenge the Cruise Ship Experience" Water and Health, Winter 2004.

• "Students' Sickness Is Blamed On Virus" by Amit R. Paley and Jamie Stockwell, The Washington Post, August 11, 2004, retrieved August 22, 2006

• "Outbreak Sickens About 100 at College Park Retreat" by Amit R. Paley, The Washington Post, August 28, 2004, retrieved August 22, 2006

• Washing your hands video - Norwalk Prevention

The above was originally based on a page from the public domain Bad Bug Book.

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External links

• CDC Viral Gastroenteritis FAQs: Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Food Illness Fact Sheet
• Loci index for genome Norwalk virus. Available from the GenBank Taxonomy database, which contains the names of all organisms that are represented in the genetic databases with at least one nucleotide or protein sequence.
• Norwalk Virus and its Outbreaks in Japan
• "Norovirus in Healthcare Facilities Fact Sheet", CDC, released December 21, 2006

http://infectioncontrol.smfforfree2.com/index.php UK based infection control forum with information and case history on successful eradication of Norovirus in a large UK Hotel December 21 is the 355th day of the year (356th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...