Abstract
Characteristics of the ribonucleic acid (RNA) virus family: Viruses with RNA as genetic material with a potential for rapid spread, cause severe or potential lethal diseases in both animals and humans. They are responsible for well-known human diseases such as measles, polio, hepatitis C, influenza, and gastroenteritis.
Preventive measures against RNA viruses can be challenging, especially the development of vaccines, due to their high mutation rate compared to DNA viruses. Norovirus specific features: Noroviruses, also referred to as Norwark-like viruses, are nonenveloped, single-stranded RNA viruses.
Their multiple transmission routes (faecal-oral, contaminated water, contact to contact), low infectious dose, high shedding titre as well as their environmental stability confer them their high virulence status. Epidemiology of Norovirus infections: Outbreaks of human norovirus infections, detected in all age groups, have become in recent years one of the major health issues, causing sporadic and acute gastroenteritis.
Norovirus gastroenteritis infections characterized by rapid onset of symptoms such as diarrhoea, vomiting, short duration and short incubation period, represent today a significant rise of medical and financial costs worldwide. Preventive measures: In this review, we discuss norovirus infections, and their preventive measures.
Vomiting and toilet flushing following diarrhoea can result in the formation of droplets and aerosols, contributing to the transmission of the virus. Importance of environmental disinfectants, hand hygiene options, and limited exposure to infectious individuals are crucial factors in preventing further outbreaks.
Moreover, the development of a vaccine against this pathogen may provide the population with a sustainable solution against spreading of infections.