Molecular epidemiology of outbreaks of viral gastroenteritis in New York State, 1998-1999.

This investigation evaluated the role of Norwalk-like virus (NLV) and other viruses (rotavirus, enteric adenovirus, and enterovirus) in 11 outbreaks of acute nonbacterial gastroenteritis that occurred in multiple settings in a span of 18 months in New York State. To determine the etiology of illness, patients' stool specimens were analyzed with a combination of reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and nucleotide sequencing, cell culture, and ELISA diagnostic techniques. NLV was detected from all of these outbreaks, with an overall detection rate of 64% (51 of 79) for all specimens tested.