The first vaccine against "intestinal flu" is being prepared for testing.

Accordint to Xinhua, Chinese officials gave their permission for clinical trials of the world's first vaccine against norovirus (the most common cause of viral gastroenteritis). The vaccine developer is Shanghai Pasteur Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. For four years the scientists have been worked on such vaccine.

Norovirus is highly infectious. The virus is transmitted through food or water and by touch (unwashed hands, household items, direct contact with a sick person). It may cause severe conditions or even death. The symptoms of norovirus are frequent vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, fever, muscle pain and headache. The human immune system can’t keep fighting against the virus for a long time.

Each year, norovirus infects about 685 million people in the world. In theory, the new vaccine may prevent 80-90% of norovirus infections. In the next five years the clinical trials may prove the safety and efficacy of the vaccine.

Source: Xinhua.