I have been thinking of just how much Norovirus and the “Common Cold” (Rhinovirus) have in common. Here is a list of what I have come up with so far…

Both have wide strain variation.

Both generate virtually no immunity.

Both are extremely transmissable.

Both are relatively difficult and expensive to diagnose in the laboratory.

Both are very difficult to treat.

Both are almost impossible to prevent.

Both cause a relatively short-lived illness.

Both only cause serious problems in very debilitated or immunocompromised patients.

I am sure there are more…

I guess what I am trying to say is that Norovirus is really the gastrointestinal equivalent of the common cold.

I am sure all of us have had Norovirus infection at some point in our lives, even if we haven’t realised it…

Michael