Norovirus infection historical perspective
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Originally called the "Norwalk agent" after Norwalk, Ohio, Norovirus was first discovered after an outbreak in an elementary school in 1968. The first documentation of the virus on electron microscopy was in 1972.
Historical Perspective
- The norovirus was originally named the "Norwalk agent" after Norwalk, Ohio, in the United States, where an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis occurred among children at Bronson Elementary School in November 1968.
- In 1972, electron microscopy on stored human stool samples identified a virus, which was given the name "Norwalk virus." Numerous outbreaks with similar symptoms have been reported since.
- The cloning and sequencing of the Norwalk virus genome showed these viruses have a genomic organization consistent with viruses belonging to the family Caliciviridae.[1]
- The name was shortened to "norovirus" after being identified in a number of outbreaks on cruise ships and receiving attention throughout the United States. The name "norovirus" (Norovirus for the genus) was approved by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) in 2002.[2] In 2011, however, a press release and a newsletter[3] were published by ICTV, which strongly encourage the media, national health authorities and the scientific community to use the virus name Norwalk virus, rather than the genus name Norovirus, when referring to outbreaks of the disease.
- In addition to "Norwalk agent" and "Norwalk virus," the virus previously has been called "Norwalk-like virus," "small, round-structured viruses" (SRSVs), and "Snow Mountain virus."[4]
- Common names of the illness caused by noroviruses still in use include "winter vomiting disease,"[5] "winter vomiting bug,"[6][7] "viral gastroenteritis," and "acute nonbacterial gastroenteritis." It also colloquially is known as "stomach flu," but this actually is a broad name that refers to gastric inflammation caused by a range of viruses and bacteria.
References
- ↑ Kapikian AZ (1996). "Overview of viral gastroenteritis". Arch. Virol. Suppl. 12: 7–19. PMID 9015097.
- ↑ ICTVdB Management (2006). 00.012.0.03. Norovirus. In: ICTVdB — The Universal Virus Database, version 4. Büchen-Osmond, C. (Ed), Columbia University, New York, USA
- ↑ "2011 ICTV Newsletter #9, November 2011". ICTV. November 14, 2011.
- ↑ Appleton H (1987). "Small round viruses: classification and role in food-borne infections ...". Ciba Found. Symp. 128: 108–25. PMID 3036438.
- ↑ ""Norwalk-Like Viruses" Public Health Consequences and Outbreak Management". Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports - Recommendations and Reports. US CDC. 50 (RR-9): 1–18. 2001.
- ↑ "Norovirus shuts wards and unit at three Sussex hospitals". BBC News. January 11, 2012. Retrieved January 20, 2012.
- ↑ "Norovirus at Norfolk hospitals: Disruption continues". BBC News. January 12, 2012. Retrieved January 20, 2012.