Norovirus

A group of viruses that are a common cause of food poisoning and acute gastroenteritis ('stomach flu') that can strike quickly with force and make a person feel very sick but which typically resolves within 2-3 days.

The characteristic symptoms are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal cramping.

The diarrhea is not bloody.

Fever, if present, is low-grade.

Dehydration is the main complication, especially in infants and the elderly, and may need medical attention.

The clinical criteria for the diagnosis of norovirus infection include: > >an incubation period of 12-36 hours; >an illness characterized by acute onset of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and, in some cases, fever and malaise; >an illness of 12-60 hours duration.

</LI></OL> The virus is spread primarily from one infected person to another (by the fecal-oral route).

Infected kitchen workers can contaminate a salad or sandwich as they prepare it, if they have the virus on their hands.

Infected fishermen have contaminated oysters as they harvested them.

Norovirus infection has become a veritable plague on cruise ships.

Norovirus was coined to refer to the Norwalk-like virus by a simpler and more memorable term.

It is now the official name.

Also called the calicivirus because of its characteristic 'Star of David' shape with cup-shaped (chalice) indentations.