Study focuses on dosage of Norwalk virus needed to cause illness

HOUSTON -- (October 11, 2005) -- Baylor College of Medicine is looking for Houston-area residents to participate in a Norwalk virus study.

The illness is an infrequent problem for cruise ship passengers and it recently broke out among evacuees that were housed in the Reliant Astrodome complex.

Researchers are looking for 84 participants to determine the least amount of this virus needed to cause illness. The information will help in developing a vaccine.

The Norwalk virus, or norovirus illness, is usually not serious, although some people may feel sick and suffer from short-term abdominal cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea.

"Healthy participants should not expect any long-term side effects, but we anticipate that some subjects will experience symptoms of gastroenteritis which will last a day or two," said Antone Opekun, co-investigator and assistant professor of medicine at BCM. "Unlike the flu, high fever and chills are not typical symptoms experienced by people who develop illness from the Norwalk virus. Outbreaks may spread rapidly in the community."

To be eligible for the study, participants must be 18 to 50 years old and in good health, not working where it might be possible to easily infect others during the first few weeks of the study and have transportation to the BCM General Clinical Research Center.

Compensation will be paid according to the level of a subject's participation. For further information, contact study staff at 713-798-7542 or e-mail Norwalk@bcm.edu.