According to the surveillance data compiled by the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC), during the past four weeks (Weeks 43 and 46 in 2016), a total of 47 viral gastroenteritis clusters caused primarily by norovirus were reported. 28 clusters were tested positive and 26 were related to norovirus. As fall and winter are the epidemic seasons of viral gastroenteritis, Taiwan CDC urges the public to wash hands frequently and to strengthen food sanitation and personal hygiene in order to prevent infection.

Taiwan CDC pointed out that the majority of the reported clusters occurred in school, accounting 61% of the total clusters, followed by clusters that occurred among restaurant works (25%), and those that occurred in hospitals, densely populated institutes, families and tuition centers. During last week (Week 46), the proportions of patients seeking emergency department for acute gastroenteritis among the 7-12 age group and the 13-18 age group respectively are 2.72‰ and 2.08‰, which are slightly up from the numbers (2.29‰ and1.83‰) reported during the week before.

Norovirus infection is transmitted mostly through fecal-oral route. Viruses can survive in the vomitus and stool of infected people for a long time and infect others through the consumption of virus-contaminated food or close contact with the patients. As a result, large scale outbreaks often occur.