Rapid response and strict control measures can contain a hospital outbreak of Norwalk-like virus

Norwalk-like viruses (NLVs) are a major cause of sporadic gastroenteritis in the community and of large outbreaks of gastroenteritis in hospitals and other institutions. In January 2001, 38 staff and 20 patients on an acute elderly care ward became ill in an outbreak of gastrointestinal infection. Using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) the causative agent was identified as NLV. No link was found between particular foods eaten and illness. At various times in the course of the outbreak a number of wards were implicated, but in hindsight the outbreak was confined to one ward. A prompt and rigorous response was successful in containing the spread of NLV infection to just one ward and stopping it in a few days.