Enhanced hygiene measures and norovirus transmission during an outbreak.

Little is known about the effectiveness of hygiene measures, such as handwashing, surface cleaning, using disposable paper towels, and using separate toilets for sick and well persons, in limiting further spread of norovirus infections. This study analysed norovirus outbreaks in 7 camps at a 2004 international scouting jamboree in the Netherlands. Implementation of hygiene measures coincided with an 84.8% reduction in reproduction number. This reduction was unexpectedly large but still below the reduction needed to contain a norovirus outbreak. Emerg Infect Dis. www.cdc.gov/eid • Vol. 15, No. 1, January 2009.