ABSTRACT
There were 142 norovirus positive outbreaks in Victoria for the 2020-2021 calendar years; however, almost half of these (48.6%) occurred in Q1 (January-March) of 2021. For the two-year period, 69.0% of all norovirus positive outbreaks were in childcare settings, and the predominant genotype was GII.P16/GII.2 (64.9%) followed by GII.P31/GII.4_2012 (20.9%). Norovirus incidence was particularly low in 2020 (n = 26) and close to average in 2021 (n = 116), but genotype diversity was low in both years. With the thought that 2022 will approach a more normal aspect to socialising and travel, norovirus incidence in 2022 may be predicted to increase above typical levels.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Caliciviridae Infections , Gastroenteritis , Norovirus , COVID-19/epidemiology , Caliciviridae Infections/epidemiology , Gastroenteritis/epidemiology , Humans , Incidence , Norovirus/genetics , Pandemics , Phylogeny , RNA, Viral , Victoria/epidemiologyABSTRACT
ABSTRACT: Significant reductions in the incidence of enteroviruses and noroviruses, both transmitted primarily by the faecal-oral route, were noted in 2020 compared to the previous decade, in Victoria, Australia. The enterovirus specimen positivity rate was reduced by 84.2% in 2020, while the norovirus outbreak positivity rate declined by 49.0%. The most likely explanation for these reductions is the concurrence of social restrictions, physical distancing, personal hygiene awareness and international and domestic border closures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.