Infections may be acquired locally or associated with travel abroad. Transmission is from person to person via faecal/oral route or through ingesting contaminated food or water. Certain groups are more vulnerable to infection and onward transmission, including but not limited to: food handlers, healthcare workers, pre-school/creche staff, children under 5 and residents of long term care facilities.

Rapid diagnosis of the causative pathogen aids appropriate early patient management, identification of outbreaks and the implementation of public health measures as appropriate.