Why does human norovirus affect only humans?

The Norovirus and Sapovirus genera contain the human enteric viruses of the same names as well as a number of viruses that cause primarily enteric diseases in other animals, such as murine and canine noroviruses. The human norovirus genome is composed of a linear, positive-sense RNA that is ∼7. read more

It's actually a family of viruses that cause gastroenteritis [intestinal flu] in humans and some animals. The original norovirus was called the "Norwalk virus," after an outbreak of intestinal flu at an elementary school in Norwalk, Ohio, in 1968. read more

Three of the genogroups (GI, GII, and GIV) affect humans. More than 25 different genotypes have been identified within these three genogroups. Since 2002, variants of the GII.4 genotype have been the most common cause of norovirus outbreaks. read more

The CDC estimates that as few as 18 virus particles may be enough to cause illness in people, which explains why norovirus infections (often mistakenly called the “stomach flu”) tend to be highly contagious, rampaging their way through homes, schools, businesses, cruise ships, etc. read more