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Young children, elderly at increased risk for norovirus
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Norovirus causes an average of 570 to 800 deaths annually in the United States, according to recent study findings published in Emerging Infectious Diseases.
“Persons ≥65 years of age are at greatest risk for norovirus-associated death, and children <5 years of age have the highest rates of norovirus-associated medical care visits,” researchers wrote. “Endemic norovirus disease occurs year round but exhibits a pronounced winter peak and increases by ≤50% during years in which pandemic strains emerge. These findings support continued development and targeting of appropriate interventions for norovirus disease.”
After summarizing findings from numerous studies using different methods that were published in the past 5 years, researchers found that norovirus causes 56,000 to 71,000 hospitalizations, 400,000 ED visits, 1.7 million to 1.9 million outpatient visits and 19 million to 21 million illnesses each year in the United States. Using those rates and a life expectancy of 79 years, a person would experience five episodes of norovirus gastroenteritis in their lifetime.
Researchers said age-specific rates of norovirus disease could help identify those groups most commonly infected and likely serving as primary human reservoirs for transmission. Efforts are also in place to develop norovirus vaccines.
“Our review suggests that for a vaccine to have maximal impact, it would need to demonstrate safety and effectiveness in young children and the elderly, groups at the highest risk for severe norovirus disease,” researchers wrote. “Other groups at risk for epidemic disease might also include health care workers, travelers and military personnel. Data from our review can inform cost-effectiveness and modeling studies to define an investment case and public health strategy for controlling norovirus disease in anticipation of completion of vaccine development and licensure.”
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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