Updated Norovirus Outbreak Management and Disease Prevention Guidelines

Please note: An erratum has been published for this article. To view the erratum, please click here.
Recommendations and Reports

Prepared by
Aron J. Hall, DVM
Jan Vinjé, PhD
Benjamin Lopman, PhD
Geun Woo Park, PhD
Catherine Yen, MD
Nicole Gregoricus, MSPH
Umesh Parashar, MBBS
Division of Viral Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases

The material in this report originated in the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Anne Schuchat, MD, Director; and the Division of Viral Diseases, Jane Seward, MBBS, Acting Director.
Corresponding preparer: Aron J. Hall, DVM, Division of Viral Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, CDC, 1600 Clifton Road, MS A-47, Atlanta, GA 30333. Telephone: 404-639-1869; Fax: 404-639-8665; E-mail: ajhall@cdc.gov.

Summary
Noroviruses are the most common cause of epidemic gastroenteritis, responsible for at least 50% of all gastroenteritis outbreaks worldwide, and a major cause of foodborne illness. In the United States, approximately 21 million illnesses attributable to norovirus are estimated to occur annually. Since 2001, when the most recent norovirus recommendations were published (CDC. "Norwalk-like viruses." Public health consequences and outbreak management. MMWR 2001;50[No. RR-9]), substantial advances have been made in norovirus epidemiology, immunology, diagnostic methods, and infection control. As molecular diagnostic techniques have improved in performance and become more widely available, detection and reporting of norovirus outbreaks have increased. Although the inability to culture human noroviruses in vitro has hampered progress, assessment of the performance of disinfectants has been facilitated by the discovery of new, cultivable surrogates for human noroviruses. In addition, the periodic emergence of epidemic strains (from genogroup II type 4, GII.4) and outbreaks in specific populations (e.g., the elderly in nursing homes) have been characterized. This report reviews these recent advances and provides guidelines for outbreak management and disease prevention. These recommendations are intended for use by public health professionals investigating outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis, including state and local health authorities, as well as academic and research institutions.
March 4, 2011 / 60(RR03);1-15