With two confirmed cases of the Norovirus infection being reported from Kerala, the Union Health Ministry has asked the State Surveillance Office (SSO) to submit a detailed report in the matter.
This month, Kerala reported two confirmed cases of Norovirus among school-going children at Vizhinjam in Thiruvananthapuram.
Norovirus, a viral illness, is the most common cause of acute gastroenteritis globally. Symptoms of Norovirus include acute onset Diarrhoea and vomiting. Emerging evidence suggests that the Norovirus infection is associated with intestinal inflammation, malnutrition and may cause long-term morbidity, officials said.
An estimated 68.5 crore cases of Norovirus are seen annually, including 20 crore cases amongst children under five years of age.
According to officials, the first documented Norovirus outbreak in Kerala was reported in Alappuzha district in June last year. Around 950 cases of acute Diarrhoeal diseases linked to Norovirus were reported in 2021 from the Alappuzha municipality and nearby panchayats. The outbreak lasted for a month and a half.