Sandmann FG, et al. - In this study, researchers quantified the hospital burden of norovirus-associated gastroenteritis for the National Health Service (NHS) in England. For the first time, they determined the wider health impact that infectious diseases such as norovirus can have for other patients awaiting admission by reducing the beds and staff available to them. Using infectious and noninfectious gastrointestinal Hospital Episode Statistics codes and laboratory reports of gastrointestinal pathogens collected at Public Health England, they modeled the number of inpatients with norovirus-associated gastroenteritis in England. Data suggest that at present, norovirus is the second-largest contributor of the gastrointestinal hospital burden in England. With the projected impact being greater than previously estimated, it is significant to improve capture of relevant opportunity costs for diseases such as norovirus.