Doctors have started testing the world’s first mRNA vaccine against the deadly vomiting bug norovirus in the UK, which is expected to have huge health and economic benefits. Norovirus is a common, yet highly contagious virus – one that causes nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Its symptoms are similar to those of stomach flu – but with different causes. According to experts, norovirus spreads easily through close contact or through contaminated food or surfaces.

Also known as the ‘winter bug’ – this virus has been linked to thousands of hospitalizations worldwide. The jab, which uses mRNA technology – similar to that used in COVID-19 jabs – tells the immune system to recognize and attack “foreign” proteins in the virus.

In this case, it targets three strains of norovirus.

Doctors said that even though most people recover from infection within two to three days, the virus is very serious, especially for young children or the elderly whose immune systems are underdeveloped or weakened.

There is currently no approved vaccine for norovirus in the world, according to Dr. Patrick Moore, national principal investigator of the trial in the UK, while people who became very sick were simply given intravenous fluids. “The burden of the bug was huge, with approximately 685 million cases and 200,000 deaths globally each year. It is thought there are around 4 million norovirus cases annually in the UK, with 12,000 hospitalizations per year in England alone,” he explained. Guardian,

Trial of new norovirus vaccine will last for two years

Known as Nova 301 — Dr. Moore said the Phase 3 clinical trial will last two years, with a focus exclusively on people over the age of 60 — from countries around the world, including Japan, Canada and Australia. Approximately 25,000 participants will be enrolled. ,

Around 4027 NHS primary and secondary care sites across England, Scotland and Wales are involved in the trial – which started earlier this month. The team is using mobile units to make it easier for people to participate.

The British arm of the study is part of the 10-year Moderna-UK strategic partnership and involves collaboration between the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), the UK Health Service. Agency (UKHSA), and pharmaceutical company Moderna, which is producing the vaccine.

Moderna says it will analyze whether the vaccine should be used as a seasonal jab, like the flu vaccine, or whether it could provide lifelong immunity.

How is norovirus different from stomach flu?

According to experts, there are different strains of norovirus Caliciviridae Family that causes inflammation in your stomach and intestines. Norovirus outbreaks are most common between November and April in countries above the equator, and between April and September in countries below the equator. Some symptoms include:

• nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea
• stomach pain
• Headache
• Fever
• body pain

Symptoms usually appear 12 to 48 hours after exposure to the virus and last for one to three days.

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