Norovirus outbreaks on college and university campuses.

ABSTRACT

Objective: To describe norovirus outbreaks at colleges and universities. Participants: None. Conducted September 2016 to March 2018. Methods: College and university norovirus outbreaks reported to the US National Outbreak Reporting System (NORS, 2009-2016) or published and indexed by EMBASE, PubMed, and Web of Science (1985-2017) were analyzed. Results: Seventy-seven norovirus outbreaks were reported to NORS and 23 were identified in the systematic literature review. Outbreaks occurred more frequently during the beginning of the school year (September-February). NORS outbreaks were more often spread by person-to-person transmission (61%) and, in published outbreaks, by food (57%). The reported exposures of published outbreaks were campus dining (n = 8) and ill food service workers (n = 7). Higher attack rates were associated with smaller on-campus population size, social networks or residences, and specific food exposures. Common control measures were communal area disinfection and health/hygiene education. Conclusions: Recommendations summarized to prevent and control norovirus outbreaks at colleges or universities.