University of Ulsan College of Medicine Reports Findings in Acute Gastroenteritis (Surge of acute gastroenteritis outbreaks due to rising norovirus GII.4 transmission in Seoul childcare centers and kindergartens in 2022 compared to 2019-2021).

A report from the University of Ulsan College of Medicine in Seoul, South Korea, highlights a surge in acute gastroenteritis (AGE) outbreaks in childcare centers and kindergartens in 2022 compared to previous years. The research found that noroviruses, known for their high transmissibility, were the most common cause of these outbreaks. The predominant genotype of norovirus changed from GII.2 to GII.4 in 2022, which contributed to the increase in AGE outbreaks. The study concludes that the rise in norovirus GII.4 transmission is primarily responsible for the increase in AGE outbreaks in Seoul. [Extracted from the article]