Norovirus is a viral illness that is the most common cause of acute gastroenteritis globally. Symptoms of norovirus include acute onset diarrhea and vomiting. Emerging evidence suggest that norovirus infection is associated with intestinal inflammation, malnutrition and may cause long-term morbidity.(1) 

An estimated 685 million cases of norovirus are seen annually, including 200 million cases amongst children under 5.(2) The burden of norovirus is significant; norovirus causes an estimated 200,000 deaths per year, including 50,000 child deaths, primarily impacting low-income countries. Norovirus has been estimated to cost $60 billion globally as a result of healthcare costs and economic losses.(2)

Platts-Mills JA, Taniuchi M, Uddin MJ, Sobuz SU, Mahfuz M, Gaffar SA, Mondal D, Hossain MI, Islam MM, Ahmed AS, Petri WA. Association between enteropathogens and malnutrition in children aged 6–23 mo in Bangladesh: a case-control study. The American journal of clinical nutrition. 2017 May 1;105(5):1132-8.