Norovirus
an incubation period of 12-36 hours;
an illness characterized by acute onset of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and, in some cases, fever and malaise;
an illness of 12-60 hours duration.
The virus is spread primarily from one infected person to another (by the fecal-oral route). Infected kitchen workers can contaminate a salad or sandwich as they prepare it, if they have the virus on their hands. Infected fishermen have contaminated oysters as they harvested them. Norovirus infection has become a veritable plague on cruise ships.
Norovirus was coined to refer to the Norwalk-like virus by a simpler and more memorable term. It is now the official name. Also called the calicivirus because of its characteristic “Star of David” shape with cup-shaped (chalice) indentations.
Read Also:
- Norplant contraceptive
Implantable progestin in the form of Norplant was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for contraception in 1990 and the newer Norplant 2 was approved in 1996 for contraception. It is no longer available in the United States. Made up of matchstick-sized rubber rods, this contraceptive device is surgically implanted under the […]
- North Asian tick-borne rickettsiosis
One of the tick-borne rickettsial diseases of the eastern hemisphere, similar to but less severe than Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Symptoms include fever, a small ulcer (eschar) at the site of the tick bite, swollen glands near the site of the bite (satellite lymphadenopathy), and a red, raised (maculopapular) rash.
- Northern blot
A technique in molecular biology, used mainly to separate and identify pieces of RNA. Called a Northern blot only because it is similar to a Southern blot (which is named after its inventor, the British biologist M.E. Southern). There is also a Western blot.
- Norwalk virus
A family of small round viruses that are an important cause of viral gastroenteritis (viral inflammation of the stomach and intestines). Norwalk disease is a significant contributor to illness in the US. Only the common cold is reported more frequently as a cause of disease. About a third of all cases of viral gastroenteritis after […]
- Nose
The external midline projection from the face. The purpose of the nose is to warm, clean, and humidify the air that a person breathes. In addition, it helps a person to smell and taste. The nose is divided into two passageways by a partition called the septum. Opening to these passageways are the nostrils. Bony […]