Common exposure outbreak of gastroenteritis due to type 2 rotavirus with high secondary attack rate within families

J Infect Dis. 1979 Sep;140(3):353-7. doi: 10.1093/infdis/140.3.353.

Abstract

A sharp outbreak of gastroenteritis associated with human rotavirus type 2 involved not only all of nine infants and young children in a playgroup but also seven of 10 parents and grandparents studied. The source of the outbreak appeared to be two non-playgroup siblings. Six of 11 individuals studied shed human rotavirus type 2, and each of seven from whom paired sera were obtained developed a type 2 sero-response. Overall, evidence of infection with rotavirus type 2 was demonstrated in 10 of 11 individuals by detection of virus in stools and/or a serologic response in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Viral / analysis
  • Child, Preschool
  • Disease Outbreaks / epidemiology*
  • Feces / microbiology
  • Gastroenteritis / epidemiology
  • Gastroenteritis / etiology*
  • Gastroenteritis / microbiology
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • RNA Viruses / isolation & purification*
  • Rotavirus / isolation & purification*
  • Virginia
  • Virus Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Virus Diseases / microbiology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral