A Gastroenteritis Outbreak Caused by Noroviruses in Greece

Apostolos Vantarakis, Kassiani Μellou, Georgia Spala, Petros Kokkinos and Yiannis Alamanos
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Apostolos Vantarakis: Environmental Microbiology Unit, Department of Public Health, Medical School, University of Patras, Patras 26500, Greece
Kassiani Μellou: Hellenic Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Athens 15123, Greece
Georgia Spala: Hellenic Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Athens 15123, Greece
Petros Kokkinos: Environmental Microbiology Unit, Department of Public Health, Medical School, University of Patras, Patras 26500, Greece
Yiannis Alamanos: Environmental Microbiology Unit, Department of Public Health, Medical School, University of Patras, Patras 26500, Greece

IJERPH, 2011, vol. 8, issue 8, 1-11

Abstract: In June 2006, an outbreak alert regarding cases of acute gastroenteritis in a region in North Eastern Greece (population 100,882 inhabitants), triggered investigations to guide control measures. The outbreak started the first days of June, and peaked in July. A descriptive epidemiological study, a virological characterization of the viral agent identified from cases as well as a phylogenetic analysis was performed. From June 5 to September 3, 2006 (weeks 23–44), 1,640 cases of gastroenteritis (45.2% male and 54.8% female, aged 3 months to 89 years) were reported. The overall attack rate for the period was 16.3 cases/1,000 inhabitants. About 57% of cases observed were under the age of 15 years. Αnalysis of faecal samples identified Norovirus GII strains. Fifteen different Norovirus GII strains were recorded, presenting a homology of 94.8% (86–97%) to GII strains obtained from GenBank. The long duration of the outbreak suggests an important role of person-to-person transmission, while the emergence of the outbreak was possibly due to contaminated potable water, although no viruses were detected in any tested water samples. This outbreak underscores the need for a national surveillance system for acute non-bacterial gastroenteritis outbreaks.

Keywords: Noroviruses; outbreak; Greece; phylogenetic analysis; genogroup II (GGII) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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