Revisiting norovirus dose-response models: a meta-analysis and multi-model comparison for waterborne risk assessment.

In 30 seconds

This meta-analysis examined dose-response models for norovirus, focusing on GII and GI strains, using data from 408 publications. The study found that the estimated one particle infection probability (P inf (1)) varied significantly across models, ranging from 0.08% to 45.61%, indicating substantial structural uncertainty in risk assessments for waterborne exposure.

Key findings

• The estimated one particle infection probability (P inf (1)) ranged from 0.08% to 45.61% across models.
• Apparent immunity for GI norovirus was observed (φ = 0.31-0.32), while GII showed weak signals (φ = 0-0.02).
• Log reduction values to achieve acceptable safety levels varied by more than 2 log 10 across exposure scenarios.

Why it matters

Understanding the variability in norovirus dose-response models is crucial for accurate microbial risk assessments, which can inform public health strategies and safety regulations for waterborne pathogens.