Major outbreaks of Norwalk-like virus that have infected 700 people in Boston provide the latest evidence that the nasty stomach bug that sickened so many cruise ship passengers is hardly limited to the high seas.

In fact, experts say, the gastrointestinal illness is much more prevalent on land.

The 17 Boston outbreaks struck nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, homeless shelters and hospitals during the past six weeks. Local health authorities call the outbreaks the worst in almost two decades since the viruses were identified. Symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain and headaches for up to two days.

Experts say the outbreaks reflect an upsurge in the number of cases of Norwalk-like viruses, which are named after an outbreak in Norwalk, Ohio, in 1968.

Federal health officials blame the same viruses, the leading cause of gastrointestinal illness, for nine outbreaks aboard cruise ships within the past six months.

The cruise ship stomach bugs gave new meaning to "seasick," creating memories vacationers would just as soon forget, and drew international headlines that suddenly made Norwalk-like viruses a familiar term.

But the cruise ship viruses represent but a tiny fraction of at least 23 million Norwalk-like illnesses in the United States each year, federal health officials say. They add that the number could be much greater because many cases likely go unreported.

"There's little doubt that what's going on in cruise ships is a reflection of what's happening on land," says Dr. Marc-Alain Widdowson, a Norwalk virus specialist at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "There's no reason to think there's any greater risk on a cruise ship than any other place with people in close proximity." more

-- Anonymous, January 11, 2003