Laboratory Characterization of Noroviruses Identified in Specimens from Military Health System Beneficiaries During an Outbreak in Germany, 2016-2017

Abstract

In 2016, among residents of the Federal Republic of Germany, norovirus incidence reported during the winter season was unusually high and reported earlier than usual. In November 2016, at least 14,872 laboratory-confirmed cases were reported in Germany, representing almost twice the median number of cases reported (7,810 cases) in the same month over the past 5 years. During the 20162017 norovirus season (October-March, Epidemiological Weeks 3913), a total of 79,378 cases were reported by the Robert Koch Institute. The total case count was greater than the counts during each of the previous four seasons (42,621 cases in 2015-2016; 67,646 cases in 2014-2015; 59,587 cases in 2013-2014; and 66,783 cases in 2012-2013). The largest number of norovirus cases in recent years in Germany was the 95,575 cases reported during the 2011-2012 season. The Robert Koch Institute reported an emerging norovirus recombinant strain (GII.P16G.II.2) during the 2016-2017 outbreak. The strain was identified in nine federal states across Germany by sequencing two open reading frames: ORF1 (polymerase) and ORF2 (capsid). Herd immunity in the German civilian population was likely attained against previously circulating norovirus strains; however, Niendorf et al. concluded that the acquired immunity against previous strains may not have been effective against the emerging variant strain, further propagating the outbreak. This study characterizes norovirus isolates from Military Health System (MHS) beneficiaries which corresponded temporally and geographically with the 2016-2017 outbreak in Germany.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 01, 2017
Accession Number
AD1038607

Entities

People

  • Alexander K. Kayatani
  • Daniel B. Pederson
  • Daniela E. Poss
  • Jennifer A. Steele
  • Koya C. Allen
  • Krista M. Brooks
  • Nellie D. Darling
  • Paul C. Graf
  • Rodney L. Coldren
  • Stic Harris

Organizations

  • Naval Health Research Center

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Adaptive Immunity
  • Civilian Population
  • Diseases And Disorders
  • Gastroenteritis
  • Genetic Code
  • Genotypes
  • Health
  • Health Services
  • Immunity
  • Infection
  • Medical Personnel
  • Military Medicine
  • Military Personnel
  • Public Health
  • United States
  • Viral Structures
  • Wound Infections

Fields of Study

  • Biology

Readers

  • Infectious Disease/Epidemiology
  • Mathematics or Statistics