Introduction: Group A rotaviruses are known as the major cause of severe dehydrating diarrhoea in infants.
Aims: In adults, the rotavirus infections are usually asymptomatic. In the present study the authors report a group A rotavirus outbreak in a psychiatric nursing home for adults.
Results: The outbreak lasted 3 weeks; the attack rate was 20%. The mean age of patients was 39 y (range 21 to 65; n = 25). The symptoms were mild, and most of the patients recovered within 2 or 3 days. The epidemiological data suggested that the virus was introduced by a patient, and it was transmitted by person-to-person route. Rotavirus positive specimens were characterised by serotyping and electropherotyping. The serotype-specific monoclonal antibody immunoassay demonstrated the circulation of a common strain with G1 specificity. These samples shared identical genome profile with strains circulated in the paediatric communities of the country.
Conclusion: In Hungary, this is the first published gastroenteritis outbreak among adults caused by group A rotaviruses with G1 serotype specificity.