The CDC reports an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis in an elementary school associated with contaminated computer keyboards. Norovirus causes the majority of acute gastroenteritis outbreaks in the United States. Person-to-person spread through the fecal-oral route, contaminated food and water, and aerosolized vomitus are known to transmit norovirus; contact with contaminated environmental surfaces also has been implicated in transmission. Laboratory studies have demonstrated that fingers contaminated with norovirus can transfer the virus to environmental surfaces, which can subsequently contaminate clean fingers with detectable amounts of norovirus. Because of shared computer use in health-care facilities, schools, and workplaces, certain researchers have suggested that computer equipment might be a route of bacterial disease transmission.
Proper washing with soap and water can eliminate norovirus from hands; alcohol-based sanitizers may also be effective. Potentially (but nonvisibly) soiled surfaces are best disinfected with a solution of 1:50 to 1:10 concentration of household bleach in water (1,000--5,000 ppm chlorine) by vigorous wiping for >10 seconds. Disposable towels used to clean visibly soiled surfaces should be discarded appropriately after use because they can transfer norovirus to fingers and other surfaces
Care should be taken when cleaning computer equipment. Washable keyboards and mice are available.
Ref. MMWR, January 4, 2008 / 56(51);1340-1343
