Gastroenteritis viruses which spread by air – Microbiology MCQ

Which of the following gastroenteritis viruses can spread by air?
A. Sapovirus
B. Rotavirus
C. Norovirus
D. Astrovirus

Correct answer : C. Norovirus

Norwalk virus (classified under Norovirus genus) electron micrograph.

Noroviruses are single stranded RNA viruses.
They belong to the Caliciviridae family.
They are responsible for 50% of the gastroenteritis outbreaks worldwide.
It usually spread via faecal-oral route.
But aerosols of the virus if inhaled, settle in the pharynx and is later swallowed.
Researchers at the Université Laval, Québec, Canada have found out that the aerosolized virus preserved its infectivity and integrity during in vitro aerosol studies.

Ref: Clinical Infectious Diseases, 2015 Apr 21. pii: civ321. via http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25900175