norovirus

noun nor·o·virus \ ˈnȯr-ə-ˌvī-rəs \

Updated on: 16 Apr 2018

Definition of norovirus

: any of a genus (Norovirus) of small, round, single-stranded RNA viruses that includes a single species (species Norwalk virus) with various strains causing gastroenteritis in people and animals (such as cows, pigs, and dogs)

People spread the virus by eating food or drinking liquids that are contaminated with norovirus, touching surfaces or objects contaminated with norovirus and then touching their mouth or having direct contact with another person who is infected.
—Cherie Black

Note: In people, noroviruses cause gastroenteritis marked chiefly by sudden onset diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and abdominal cramps.

— see norwalk virus

Recent Examples of norovirus from the Web

As the leading cause of gastroenteritis in the United States, norovirus can get all over bathrooms when people poop or vomit it out.

— zahra barnes, SELF, "Wearing Shoes Indoors: How Many Germs Are We Talking, Exactly?," 10 Apr. 2018
This time around it is particularly nasty stomach bug called norovirus that is felling athletes, coaches and spectators in Pyeong Chang, South Korea.

— jenny deam, Houston Chronicle, "A new Olympic sport: Dodging disease," 20 Feb. 2018
This isn’t a crisis, and no, the norovirus did not engulf the American team.

— barry svrluga, The Seattle Times, "For Team USA, it’s not quite a medal drought, but it’s certainly no Olympic reign," 18 Feb. 2018
This isn't a crisis, and no, the norovirus did not engulf the American team.

— barry svrluga, Anchorage Daily News, "For Team USA, it’s not quite a medal drought, but it’s certainly no Olympic reign," 18 Feb. 2018
Officials are pushing for everyone to wash their hands often and use hand sanitizer, although that’s less effective against norovirus.

— beth mole, Ars Technica, "Alarm grows as norovirus outbreak explodes at Olympics; cases quadruple in days," 8 Feb. 2018
Olympics organizers say the norovirus spread began Sunday when private security workers staying in the Jinbu area of Pyeongchang started complaining of headaches, stomach pain and diarrhea.

— USA TODAY, "The Latest: Cold comes to Pyeongchang ahead of Olympics," 6 Feb. 2018
There's no specific treatment for norovirus infection, the clinic says on its website.

— anna fifield, Washington Post, "Norovirus outbreak at PyeongChang Olympic venues leads to staff quarantine," 6 Feb. 2018
Pathogens can lurk in fecal matter, like the highly contagious norovirus and rotavirus, which can both cause food poisoning and the stomach flu, along with cold and flu viruses, Reynolds says.

— korin miller, SELF, "Why You Seriously Need to Stop Taking Your Phone Into the Bathroom," 15 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'norovirus.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of norovirus

New Latin, from English Norwalk virus + New Latin -o- + virus

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 2002

See Words from the same year

Medical Dictionary

norovirus

noun nor·o·virus \ ˌnȯr-ō-ˈvī-rəs \

medical Definition of norovirus

1 capitalized : a genus of small, round, single-stranded, highly infectious RNA viruses that includes a single species (species Norwalk virus) with various strains causing gastroenteritis in people and animals (such as cows and dogs)

2 : any virus of the genus Norovirus

People spread the virus by eating food or drinking liquids that are contaminated with norovirus, touching surfaces or objects contaminated with norovirus and then touching their mouth or having direct contact with another person who is infected.
—Cherie Black, The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 29 Dec. 2006

Note: In people, noroviruses cause gastroenteritis marked chiefly by sudden onset, diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and abdominal cramps.

— see norwalk virus