Where did the norovirus come from?

Answer 1

Actually, norovirus is an all encompassing term for a family of different viruses responsible for causing the "stomach flu", or gastroenteritis, to people. It's a food borne illness, usually spread from one infected person to another through improper food handling or sanitation practices. The viruses that cause it are found in the feces of people and animals, and seafood like oysters who eat through a filtration process. People don't always wash their hands as well as they should, and from their hands to their mouths- transmit the virus from where it should be to where it should not be. Once in the small intestine, the virus reproduces rapidly and the body triggers the diarrhea to clean house. One infected person can then go on to infect dozens. In the case of something like oysters, all the oysters in the bed filtered the same water and likely sucked in the same virus. Since people don't often eat just one oyster, they manage to take in quite a viral dose to start with. And since oysters are a popular food to eat raw, people who handle them can spread the virus all around them- even to other foods, and definitely to other people who didn't eat the oysters to begin with.
Like most food borne illnesses, proper food handling and sanitation practices, along with sensible eating habits, goes a long way in prevention. Once you have it though, it is just a matter of treating the symptoms and waiting for the body to recover. As it is a virus, it is not suseptible to antibiotics, unlike a bacteria. Viruses also mutate regularly, enough so that the immune system is not able to acquire immune protection against future exposures. That's why you can get "stomach flu" time and time again. The best defense you have against them is the old fashioned one, wash your hands, keep them away from your mouth, and keep clean in the kitchen. There's not much you can do for the raw food factors, except perhaps consider not eating things like raw seafood, and definitely wearing gloves when dealing with them, being careful not to touch anything else in the process.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

Norwalk, Ohio according to Wiki is the location and here's more from Wiki:
In November 1968 an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis occurred among children at an elementary school. In 1972, immune electron microscopy on saved stool samples identified the virus, which was called Norwalk virus.

You can even see what the norovirus looks like if you go to the Wiki site listed below. Very interesting . . .

Answer 4

Norwalk or noroviruses cause stomach flu or "gasteroenteritis."
These viruses are commonly found on cruise ships. The norovirus is VERY contagious and can be picked up by eating food contamined by someone who handled the food that was sick. Infrequent hand washing or being around someone who has the norovirus is usually the cause.

Answer 5

Norovirus Wiki