Food safety & hygieneLesson 3 of 3 in the course Foodborne illness

Norovirus: Illness, Transmission, Prevention, and Outbreaks

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

Norovirus is a leading cause of gastroenteritis worldwide. This lesson introduces the illness it causes, how symptoms develop, and who is most at risk of complications.

Norovirus, also known historically as Norwalk virus, is a common cause of acute gastroenteritis—inflammation of the stomach and intestines. The illness is sometimes informally called the stomach flu or winter vomiting disease, but it is not influenza.

All flashcards

Norovirus gastroenteritis
Acute inflammation of the stomach and intestines caused by norovirus.
Fecal–oral transmission
Spread that occurs when virus from infected feces reaches another person’s mouth.
Post-symptom shedding
Continued release of norovirus after symptoms have ended; shedding can last many weeks.
FUT2 non-secretor
A person with two nonfunctional FUT2 copies, who has strong but incomplete protection against common GII.4.
Norwalk virus
Historical name linked to the 1968 gastroenteritis outbreak in Norwalk, Ohio.

Quiz questions

  1. Which description best identifies norovirus?Answer: A non-enveloped, positive-sense, single-stranded RNA virus.
  2. What is the main route by which norovirus spreads?Answer: Fecal–oral transmission.
  3. Which everyday measure is most dependable for preventing norovirus spread?Answer: Washing hands with soap and water.
  4. Which laboratory method can confirm norovirus infection, especially during outbreak investigations?Answer: PCR-based testing for viral genetic material.
  5. What is true of people with two nonfunctional FUT2 copies?Answer: They have strong, but incomplete, protection against common GII.4.

Based on the Wikipedia article Norovirus, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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