Vomiting machine reveals norovirus transmission, infection

A study conducted by researchers from North Carolina State University used a makeshift vomiting machine to test how the norovirus spreads so quickly in a population.

The norovirus is highly contagious and transfers from person to person, reports Time. In addition, people who have contracted the virus often end up vomiting.

Previous researchers of the norovirus have hypothesized for years that it can spread through aerosolization, after an infected person has vomited. However, the aerosolization theory has never been strictly tested, says Prof. Lee-Ann Jaykus, a food microbiologist at N.C. States and one of the authors of the study.

NPR clarifies that aerosolization occurs when viral particles travel into the air, thereby increasing the chances of being infected with the virus. Through aerosolization, a viral particle can enter the mouth or latch on to surfaces, which people often touch.

The machine simulated each major organ involved in vomiting. A tube represented the esophagus where the vomit would come out, while a pressurized chamber was made to mimic the stomach.

According to Wired, N.C. State researchers even mixed up some lab-made vomit, which was essentially made with vanilla pudding. Time adds that the researchers also experimented with the texture of the vomit.

Chunky vomit was made with vanilla JELL-O pudding, while the watery kind of vomit was made using artificial saliva. In addition, green food coloring was added to both forms of fake vomit.

Since the norovirus was too dangerous to work with, the University researchers used a different virus, named MS2 bacteriophage, which is not harmful to humans.

When everything was set, the vomit was loaded up to the makeshift stomach of the machine and shot through the pressurized tube into a closed glass box, where a device collected any aerosolized particles.

After analyzing the particles, the team discovered that over 13,000 particles of the experimental virus were indeed aerosolized and posed a threat of infection.

The vomiting machine's data was congruent with the findings of another study, in which air samples were taken outside the rooms of norovirus patients. The samples later tested positive for norovirus particles, reports NPR.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the norovirus is known to infect about 21 million Americans every year and has become a major public health issue.

The data from the vomiting machine has helped scientists understand how the norovirus spreads a bit more, increasing the chances of preventing infection. N.C. States researchers are now using the vomiting machine to test how long viral particles survive and stay in the air.