3 new strains of norovirus that are causing gastro outbreaks.

Jacinta Bowler writes in Science Alert,

Australian scientists have discovered three new strains of norovirus, which they say are responsible for a local outbreak of viral gastroenteritis over the last couple of months.

At the worst point of this outbreak, cases of gastro outnumbered influenza during peak flu season in some areas of Australia.

Norovirus is a single-stranded RNA virus that causes vomiting, diarrhoea, nausea, and in some cases, a temporary loss of taste.

The virus is spread through things like aerosol particles and infected faeces, and can stay on surfaces for at least seven days. As few as five virus particles are all that’s needed to infect someone with norovirus.

Worldwide, the virus affects 267 million people, and causes 200,000 deaths per year, usually in patients with weakened immune systems, such as infants or the elderly.

In 2012, researchers from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Australia had found a strain of norovirus they named Sydney 2012, which was causing a worldwide pandemic of gastro.

"Norovirus is highly infectious and can spread through aerosol particles when people vomit," said lead researcher, Peter White.

"During the past 20 years there have been six global epidemics of norovirus, in 1996, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2009 and 2012."

Read more here.
h/t Glenn Reynolds