Norovirus News and Research

RSS

Norovirus (formerly Norwalk agent) is an RNA virus (taxonomic family Caliciviridae) that causes approximately 90% of epidemic nonbacterial outbreaks of gastroenteritis around the world, and may be responsible for 50% of all foodborne outbreaks of gastroenteritis in the United States.

Scientists grow noroviruses in laboratory cultures of human intestinal epithelial cells

Human noroviruses - the leading viral cause of acute diarrhea around the world - have been difficult to study because scientists had not found a way to grow them in the lab.

27 Aug 2016

Researchers develop new method to culture norovirus in intestinal cells

Researchers have succeeded in culturing norovirus in human intestinal cells, a breakthrough that could help scientists develop novel therapeutics and vaccines against the debilitating effects of the virus.

26 Aug 2016

Fecal contamination in water can sicken swimmers

Recreational water illness is the overall term for sickness caused by bacteria or viruses in pools, lakes, rivers and other places people like to swim or play in hot weather.

4 Jul 2016

Mobile devices of healthcare workers often contaminated by viral RNA

In clinical settings, mobile phones benefit patients by placing useful data and information at the fingertips of health professionals during interactions on the ward.

22 Jun 2016

Study finds decrease in Google searches for chickenpox after vaccination implementation

Countries that implement government-mandated vaccinations for chickenpox see a sharp drop in the number of Google searches for the common childhood disease afterward, demonstrating that immunization significantly reduces seasonal outbreaks.

31 May 2016

Fluorescent proteins help trace viral infections

Researchers at Umea University have developed a new method to directly follow viral infections in living organisms. This method can make infected cells produce fluorescent proteins, which means that they light up and become easier to identify.

19 May 2016

Research highlights global economic burden of norovirus

While norovirus is often linked in the news to outbreaks on cruise ships, the highly contagious stomach bug sickens nearly 700 million around the world every year and results in roughly $4.2 billion in health care costs and $60.3 billion in societal costs annually, new Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health research suggests.

27 Apr 2016

CosmosID announces $6M in Series B funding round

CosmosID, the leading genomic big data company focused on microbiome research, outbreak investigations, and infectious disease diagnostics, using next-generation DNA sequencing, announced $6M in Series B funding.

28 Jan 2016

The Learning Clinic to supply VitalPAC clinical solutions to Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust

The Learning Clinic has won a further 5-year contract with Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust to supply a wide range of VitalPAC clinical solutions across the 1,200 bed Trust. The contract was won following a full procurement against a number of competitors.

14 Oct 2015

New test capable of detecting all viruses that affect people and animals

A new, super-sensitive test has been developed that can detect virtually any virus that causes illness in humans and animals, according to researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

1 Oct 2015

New test identifies viruses that infect people and animals

A new test detects virtually any virus that infects people and animals, according to research at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, where the technology was developed.

30 Sep 2015

Bioquell to unveil advanced pathogen eradication technology at annual IPS conference

Antibiotic-resistant pathogens such as CPE and hospital-acquired infections like C.difficile or norovirus seem to be relentlessly lurking around NHS hospitals.

16 Sep 2015

NHS Trust uses clinical measures, computer-based surveillance to reduce norovirus outbreaks by over 90%

An NHS Trust has cut outbreaks of the norovirus winter vomiting bug by more than 90% over a five-year period, according to research published in the journal BMJ Quality and Safety.

15 Sep 2015

Oysters play important role in persistence and transmission of norovirus

Oysters not only transmit human norovirus; they also serve as a major reservoir for these pathogens, according to research published August 28 in Applied and Environmental Microbiology, a journal of the American Society for Microbiology. "More than 80 percent of human norovirus genotypes were detected in oyster samples or oyster-related outbreaks," said corresponding author Yongjie Wang, PhD.

29 Aug 2015

USciences professor provides infection control measures for college-bound students

Thousands of students across Greater Philadelphia will soon start the next chapter of their lives as they begin their college journeys away from home.

13 Aug 2015

Light-based technologies help improve food shelf life, guard against food contaminants

Light-based technologies are emerging as tools to enhance food shelf life and guard against food contaminants but more research needs to be done, warn food scientists at a July 13 panel discussion at IFT15: Where Science Feeds Innovation hosted by the Institute of Food Technologists in Chicago.

16 Jul 2015

New test could identify resistant tuberculosis faster

Tuberculosis (TB) disease rates in some parts of London are as high as in Sub-Saharan Africa, and drug-resistant strains are becoming increasingly common.

From Oxford Gene Technology 14 May 2015

UCL-led team develops new technique to find resistant TB faster

The time needed to genetically sequence the bacteria causing tuberculosis (Mtb) from patient samples has been reduced from weeks to days using a new technique developed by a UCL-led team. This could help health service providers to better treat disease, control transmission of this infection, and monitor outbreaks.

From Oxford Gene Technology 13 May 2015

Sterillo: The world's most hygienic hand dryer destroys bacteria and viruses

Research by Sterillo, the world's most hygienic hand dryer, has revealed a nation attempting to dodge germs and smelly washrooms. Whilst they are in fact, ignorantly smothering themselves in germs and bacteria every time they visit a public or restaurant toilet.

15 Apr 2015

Infectious diseases experts release new guidance to avoid infections during hospital visits

Leading infectious diseases experts have released new guidance for healthcare facilities looking to establish precautions for visitors of patients with infectious diseases. The guidance looks to reduce the potential for healthcare visitors in spreading dangerous bacteria within the healthcare facility and community.

13 Apr 2015