Which virus is known to be a common cause of gastrointestinal illness from contaminated hands?

Norovirus is widely recognized as a leading cause of gastrointestinal illness, particularly due to its high transmissibility and ability to spread through contaminated surfaces and hands. This virus is often associated with outbreaks in environments such as restaurants, cruise ships, and schools, where large groups of people can become infected rapidly.

When an infected person fails to wash their hands thoroughly after using the restroom and subsequently handles food, they can easily transfer the virus to others, resulting in clusters of illness. Norovirus is resilient, capable of surviving on surfaces and being resistant to some common disinfection methods, making hand hygiene critical in preventing its spread.

While Hepatitis A and Rotavirus can also lead to gastrointestinal issues, their primary transmission routes and health impacts differ. Hepatitis A is typically associated with contaminated food or water rather than hand contact alone, and Rotavirus is mainly a concern in young children and spreads through a fecal-oral route as well. Vibrio parahaemolyticus, on the other hand, is generally linked to consuming contaminated seafood rather than hand contamination. Hence, Norovirus stands out as the most common virus acquired through contaminated hands, particularly in food service settings.