Why in News?

• Norovirus infection was confirmed in two schoolchildren in Ernakulam district of Kerala.

 Norovirus:

• Norovirus is a contagious virus that is also called the “winter vomiting bug”.
• Norovirus is an RNA virus belonging to the family Caliciviridae.
• It is a human enteric pathogen that causes acute gastroenteritis.
• The most common symptoms caused due to Norovirus include diarrhoea, vomiting, nausea and stomach pain.
• Norovirus mainly spreads through faecal-oral routes such as:
• Direct contact with an infected person
• Consuming contaminated water or food
• Touching contaminated surfaces and using unwashed hands
• According to the World Health Organization (WHO), norovirus can infect anyone.
• Since the Norovirus genus comprises viruses that infect humans, pigs, cattle, and mice, the possibility of zoonotic transmission of infection exists.