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. 2018 Apr 17;24(4):767-769.
doi: 10.3201/eid2404.171791. Online ahead of print.

Bimodal Seasonality and Alternating Predominance of Norovirus GII.4 and Non-GII.4, Hong Kong, China, 2014-20171

Martin Chi-Wai Chan, Kirsty Kwok, Lin-Yao Zhang, Kirran N Mohammad, Nelson Lee, Grace C Y Lui, E Anthony S Nelson, Raymond W M Lai, Ting F Leung, Paul K S Chan

Bimodal Seasonality and Alternating Predominance of Norovirus GII.4 and Non-GII.4, Hong Kong, China, 2014-20171

Martin Chi-Wai Chan et al. Emerg Infect Dis. .

Abstract

We report emerging subtropical bimodal seasonality and alternating predominance of norovirus GII.4 and non-GII.4 genotypes in Hong Kong. GII.4 predominated in summer and autumn months and affected young children, whereas emergent non-GII.4 genotypes predominated in winter months and affected all age groups. This highly dynamic epidemiology should inform vaccination strategies.

Keywords: China; GII.4; Hong Kong; age distribution; bimodal seasonality; geographic hotspot; non-GII.4; norovirus; surveillance; vaccine strain; viruses.

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Figures

Figure
Figure
Bimodal seasonality and alternating predominance of norovirus GII.4 and non-GII.4 genotypes in Hong Kong, China, 2014–2017. A) Temporal distribution of ages of patients hospitalized for norovirus gastroenteritis. Each dot represents 1 patient. Red horizontal bars indicate medians. B) Epidemic curve during the study period. All cases shown are stratified by norovirus viral protein 1 genotype. Pink shading along baseline indicates months during which the median age of hospitalized case-patients was >5 years.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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