title: Detection of Norwalk-like virus infection aboard two U.S. Navy ships.
abstract: Two U.S. Navy ships experienced outbreaks of gastroenteritis following port visits to Southeast Asia during August to September 1999. The USS Peleliu (LHA 5) had 162 (6% attack rate) medical visits and the USS Constellation (CV 64) had 425 medical visits (9% attack rate). Navy Environmental and Preventive Medicine Unit No. 5 personnel conducted on-board molecular diagnostic assays to presumptively detect the presence of genogroup I Norwalk-like viruses (NLV) in both outbreaks. NLV RNA were detected in 4 (80%) of 5 Peleliu stool specimens and in 9 (36%) of 25 from the Constellation. Significant antibody titer rises to NLV antigens were measured in 18 (62%) of 29 Peleliu and 69 (68%) of 102 Constellation cases, but only in 1 (4%) of 28 asymptomatic controls. All environmental swipes were negative for NLV. Stools yielded no bacterial or parasitic enteropathogens. No point source was found for either ship. The on-site laboratory investigation can provide important information for outbreak control and prevention while new cases are still presenting.
authors.affiliation: Navy Environmental and Preventive Medicine Unit No. 5, San Diego, CA 92136, USA.
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thornton
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chapman
authors.forename: Tibor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Farkas
authors.forename: Nouansy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wilton
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Doggett
authors.forename: Xi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001210:Asia, Southeastern; D017250:Caliciviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008889:Military Personnel; D029322:Norovirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012767:Ships; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology