Norovirus

Norovirus is the most common cause of viral gastroenteritis in humans causing watery diarrhea. It affects people of all ages. Norovirus belongs to the caliciviridae family and is a linear, single stranded, RNA virus with an icosahedral capsid. The virus is transmitted by fecally contaminated food or water, by person-to-person contact, and via aerosolization of vomited virus and subsequent contamination of surfaces. The virus affects around 267 million people and causes over 200,000 deaths each year; these deaths are usually in less developed countries and in the very young, elderly and immunosuppressed.