Risk Factors for Norovirus, Sapporo-like Virus, and Group A Rotavirus Gastroenteritis

• Main Authors: Matty AS de Wit, Marion PG Koopmans, Yvonne THP van Duynhoven
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2003-12-01
• Series: Emerging Infectious Diseases
• Subjects: risk factors; viral gastroenteritis; norovirus; Sapporo-like virus; rotavirus; hygiene
• Online Access: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/9/12/02-0076_article
• ISSN: 1080-6040; 1080-6059

Viral pathogens are the most common causes of gastroenteritis in the community. To identify modes of transmission and opportunities for prevention, a case-control study was conducted and risk factors for gastroenteritis attributable to norovirus (NV), Sapporo-like virus (SLV), and rotavirus were studied. For NV gastroenteritis, having a household member with gastroenteritis, contact with a person with gastroenteritis outside the household, and poor food-handling hygiene were associated with illness (population attributable risk fractions [PAR] of 17%, 56%, and 47%, respectively). For SLV gastroenteritis, contact with a person with gastroenteritis outside the household was associated with a higher risk (PAR 60%). For rotavirus gastroenteritis, contact with a person with gastroenteritis outside the household and food-handling hygiene were associated with a higher risk (PAR 86% and 46%, respectively). Transmission of these viral pathogens occurs primarily from person to person. However, for NV gastroenteritis, foodborne transmission seems to play an important role.