Detection and molecular characterization of emergent GII.P17/GII.17 Norovirus in Brazil, 2015

A newly GII.17 Kawazaki_2014 variant strain was detected recently in Brazil. Phylogenetic analysis reveals at least four independent introduction events of this lineage into this country that took place throughout 2014, coinciding with FIFA World Cup in Brazil, 2014, and Hong Kong has been identified as the most likely source of introduction. This variant emerged in Asia causing outbreaks and replacing prevalent GII.4. Emergence of GII.P17/GII.17 variant emphasizes the need for active laboratory surveillance for NoV including molecular epidemiology and studies on virus evolution.