We report on three nursing home outbreaks of gastroenteritis in Brisbane in 1999. The presence of Norwalk-like virus (NLV) genogroup 2 was demonstrated by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in all three outbreaks. Common findings of these investigations were rapid spread of the illness within the institutions and difficulties in identifying a common source. Nursing home populations are vulnerable and it is important for each institution to have infection control policies

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... place so outbreaks can be managed promptly. This includes the exclusion of ill staff for 48 to 72 hours after recovery from illness. Genogrouping of NLV by RT-PCR can take several days so control measures will generally have to be instituted before results become available.