What is the ‘vomiting bug’ norovirus? Explained
Norovirus is among a common group of viruses that cause vomiting and diarrhoea; they spread through contaminated food, water and surfaces
Even as India comes to term with the human metapneumovirus (HMPV) and doctors urge calm among citizens, the United States is grappling with outbreaks of another viral illness -- norovirus. Media reports indicate that cases of this highly-contagious ‘vomiting bug’ have spiked this winter. Here’s quick guide as to what this virus is and how to safeguard against it.

Norovirus is a common group of viruses that cause vomiting and diarrhoea. It belongs to the Caliciviridae family of viruses that cause inflammation of your stomach and intestines. There are many different strains of norovirus. The virus was first identified in stool samples collected after a gastroenteritis outbreak at a school in Norwalk, Ohio in 1968. It is, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the leading cause of vomiting and diarrhea, and food-borne illness in the United States.