Surveillance of norovirus infectious diarrhea in Meizhou city,2013-2014

Objective To monitor the epidemiological characteristic of norovirus infection diarrhea in Meizhou city.Methods The stool samples were collected from outpatients of acute diarrhea in sentinel hospital between 2013 and 2014. One step real-time RT-PCR was used for screening norovirus genogroups GI and GII. Results A total of 766 fecal specimens were included in this study; out of which, 92(12.01%) were positive for norovirus. Of 92 noroviruspositive specimens, 91(98.91%) were positive for genogroup GII and 4(1.09%) were positive for genogroup GI.Norovirus was prevalent throughout the year and an increased activity of norovirus infection was usually observed between September and Novermber. No statistically significant difference were observed in positive incidence of genders(χ2=1.51,P 0.05) and different age groups(χ2=2.30,P 0.05). Conclusion Norovirus is a common causative agent responsible for infectious diarrhea in Meizhou, and genogroup GII is the dominant strain. Norovirus infection diarrhea is epidemic year round with high activity in autumn and winter.People are generally susceptible to norovirus infection.