Norovirus Outbreak Surveillance, China, 2016-2018.

Miao Jin,Huaping Xie,Weihong Feng,Jan Vinjé,Zhaojun Duan,Jianguang Fu,Shuyu Wu,Jingxin Li,Na Liu,Yaqing He,Xiangyu Kong,Jeanette J Rainey,Aron J Hall

doi:10.3201/eid2603.191183

Abstract

CaliciNet China, a network of provincial, county, and city laboratories coordinated by the Chinese Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, was launched in October 2016 to monitor the epidemiology and genotype distribution of norovirus outbreaks in China. During October 2016–September 2018, a total of 556 norovirus outbreaks were reported, and positive fecal samples from 470 (84.5%) outbreaks were genotyped. Most of these outbreaks were associated with person-to-person transmission (95.1%), occurred in childcare centers or schools (78.2%), and were reported during November–March of each year (63.5%). During the 2-year study period, 81.2% of all norovirus outbreaks were typed as GII.2[P16]. In China, most norovirus outbreaks are reported by childcare centers or schools; GII.2[P16] is the predominant genotype. Ongoing surveillance by CaliciNet China will provide information about the evolving norovirus genotype distribution and outbreak characteristics important for the development of effective interventions, including vaccines.

Highlights

CaliciNet China, a network of provincial, county, and city laboratories coordinated by the Chinese Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, was launched in October 2016 to monitor the epidemiology and genotype distribution of norovirus outbreaks in China
The genome is organized into 3 open reading frames (ORFs): ORF1 encodes polyprotein, ORF2 encodes the major capsid protein (VP1), and ORF3 encodes the minor (VP2) capsid protein
Since 2004, provincial and local Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCs) in China have been required to report all acute gastroenteritis outbreaks of >20 cases, including those caused by noroviruses, to a passive national outbreak surveillance system called Public Health Emergency Event Surveillance System (PHEESS) [12]

Summary

Introduction

CaliciNet China, a network of provincial, county, and city laboratories coordinated by the Chinese Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, was launched in October 2016 to monitor the epidemiology and genotype distribution of norovirus outbreaks in China. Since 2002, genogroup II, genotype 4 (GII.4), noroviruses have been associated with most norovirus outbreaks globally, and new GII.4 variants have emerged every 2–3 years [8]. Since 2004, provincial and local Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCs) in China have been required to report all acute gastroenteritis outbreaks of >20 cases, including those caused by noroviruses, to a passive national outbreak surveillance system called Public Health Emergency Event Surveillance System (PHEESS) [12].

Results

Conclusion