Asymptomatic Norovirus Infection Among Children in Kindergartens and Primary Schools - Beijing Municipality, China, 2021.

ABSTRACT

What is already known about this topic? Children in kindergartens and primary schools are the high-incidence groups of norovirus acute gastroenteritis. However, asymptomatic norovirus infection among them is seldom reported. What is added by this report? The norovirus positive rate was 3.48% among asymptomatic children in kindergartens and primary schools in Beijing Municipality in June 2021, the most common genotype was GII.4 Sydney, and no acute gastroenteritis outbreak was reported over the study period. What are the implications for public health practice? The asymptomatic norovirus infection was relatively low among kindergarten children and primary school students in summer. Norovirus genotypes in asymptomatic children were similar to those circulating in the symptomatic cases. Asymptomatic norovirus infection may play a limited role in causing acute gastroenteritis outbreaks.