Since early November 2016, the number of laboratory-confirmed norovirus
infections reported in Germany has been increasing steeply. Here, we report
the detection and genetic characterisation of an emerging norovirus
recombinant, GII.P16-GII.2. This strain was frequently identified as the cause
of sporadic cases as well as outbreaks in nine federal states of Germany. Our
findings suggest that the emergence of GII.P16-GII.2 contributed to rising
case numbers of norovirus gastroenteritis in Germany