All very interesting answers. I have read that excerpt about Norwalk Ohio in the past. I know that is where they discovered it and named it. I was thinking more along the lines of yearly outbreaks like the one we had here in japan this year where more than 90% of our military base was infected. I know that the virus is present year round and the reason we catch it more in the winter is because we are indoors with others. But someone got it first and started the outbreak. I guess I was wondering where that person picked it up. Is it just always present in the environment waiting to strike? If so then if the virus only lives a short time on surfaces how does it survive long enough to infect someone and where does it begin? I am thinking like mdgirl fecal oral route.