A probable norovirus outbreak at Schulze Lake in Minnesota has state officials warning people not to go swimming at their local beach or pool if they are sick. Dozens of people reported getting sick after swimming at that lake in Dakota County's Lebanon Hills Regional Park in the last three days. More than 60 reports of illness after swimming at that lake have been received. Patients are experiencing diarrhea and vomiting. Trisha Robinson, waterborne disease supervisor at the Minnesota Department of Health, said that officials are still determining the exact pathogen, but that incubation times and symptoms are consistent with norovirus. Robinson said in a statement, "These types of germs can spread quickly and widely if people who are or have recently been ill swim in the same … [Read more...]
Norovirus on Cruise Ships Return After Pandemic
So far this year there has been one norovirus outbreak, and three other outbreaks with symptoms of norovirus on cruise ships, after the Covid-19 pandemic interrupted those vacations, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Norovirus outbreaks are common on these ships, partly because of the enclosed spaces and partly because the highly contagious virus spreads easily in crowded conditions. On the Arcadia, from P&O Cruises, 86 passengers and 20 crew members were sickened with norovirus out of 1,752 passengers and 815 crew members. In response to this outbreak, the crew increased cleaning and disinfection procedures, collected stool specimens from patients, and notified embarking guests about the situation. Brilliance of the Seas, a ship from Royal … [Read more...]
At Least 130 Sick in Norovirus Outbreak at Las Vegas School
A bout of vomiting last week at the Wayne N. Tanaka Elementary School in Las Vegas, Nevada was caused by norovirus, according to news reports. At least 130 kids were projectile vomiting at this norovirus outbreak at Las Vegas school, according to MSN. The children were sickened during the school day. That quick onset does point to norovirus as the culprit. And that pathogen was confirmed in lab tests a few days ago that were conducted by the Southern Nevada Health District. Norovirus is very contagious and is spread through contaminated food and drink, through contact with surfaces (fomites), and also through person-to-person contact. Symptoms of norovirus include vomiting, nausea, stomach pain, and diarrhea. Some patients may also have fever, headache, and body aches. Most … [Read more...]
CDC Weighs In On Texas Oysters Norovirus Outbreak
The CDC has weighed in on the Texas oysters norovirus outbreak that has sickened more than 200 people. The oysters were harvested between 11/17/2022 and 12/7/2022 from harvest area TX 1 in Galveston Bay. Patients in this outbreak, 211 of them, live in Florida and Texas and six other states. The oysters were shipped to these states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. The oysters may have been distributed in other states. There have been 211 illnesses reported as of December 15, 2022. The case count by state has not been released, nor has the illness onset date range or the patient age range. Restaurants and food retailers should not serve raw oysters from that area. The raw oysters were potentially contaminated with norovirus. … [Read more...]
Avoid Potentially Contaminated Oysters from Harvest Area TX 1
The FDA is advising restraints and consumers to avoid potentially contaminated oysters from Harvest Area TX 1 in Galveston, Texas. The culprit is norovirus. Last week, the Texas Department of Health and Human Services revealed that an outbreak linked to those oysters has sickened dozens of people in Florida and Texas. The oysters were harvested between November 17, 2022 and December 7, 2022 from that harvest area and were distributed to restaurants and retailers in these states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. Other states may have also received the oysters. The harvest information should be on the packaging. Texas officials issued a recall order for all of those oysters on December 8, 2022 and informed the Interstate Shellfish … [Read more...]
It’s Likely That Monical’s Outbreak Was Norovirus
It's likely that the Monical's outbreak was norovirus, according to news reports, since the Tazewell County Health Department found three laboratory-confirmed cases of that type of infection on November 30, 2022. The food poisoning outbreak was announced two days ago, with at least 155 patrons reporting symptoms of stomach cramps, chills, nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting. Monical's Pizza is located at 6 Cherry Tree Shopping Center in Washington, Illinois. It was closed by the Illinois Department of Health for deep cleaning, food disposal, and employee training, but reopened on November 29, 2022. Investigators further revealed that the virus was probably transmitted through high touch surfaces, or fomites. The virus is very contagious, and is spread through person-to-person contact, … [Read more...]
Norovirus Sickened 173 at D. C. Cobb’s Restaurant in Illinois
A norovirus outbreak sickened 173 people at D. C. Cobb's restaurant in McHenry, Illinois in August 2022, according to an investigation by the McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH). Two of those patients were hospitalized. The last time this investigation was updated was on September 16, 2022, when it was reported that 16 people were sick after eating at that restaurant. The restaurant is located at 1204 North Green Street in McHenry. Norovirus is a common cause of food poisoning. it is a very contagious virus that is spread through contaminated food, through contact with contaminated surfaces, and through person-to-person contact. Symptoms of a norovirus infection include diarrhea, nausea, stomach pain, and vomiting. A cluster of illnesses was linked to that restaurant at … [Read more...]
Kansas Shigella Outbreak at Splash Pad Sickened 21 in June 2021
A Kansas shigella outbreak at a splash pad in June 2021 sickened at least 21 people, according to the Center For Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) for the week of August 5, 2022. The splash pad was located in a Kansas wildlife park. There were actually two outbreaks: One involving shigella, and the other was a norovirus outbreak. Getting splash pad water in the mouth was associated with the illnesses. The shigella outbreak was linked to visits on June 11, 2021, and the norovirus outbreak was linked to visits on June 18, 2021. The contributing factors were inadequate disinfection, equipment, and training. The park has animal exhibits and a splash pad. In June 2021, Kansas state and county public health officials identified three cases of … [Read more...]
FDA Works to Improve Safety of Fresh and Frozen Berries
The FDA is working to improve the safety of fresh and frozen berries in the wake of hepatitis A and norovirus outbreaks linked to those items. An ongoing hepatitis A outbreak linked to fresh organic strawberries has sickened at least 18 people in three states, and a hepatitis A outbreak in 2020 linked to blackberries sickened 20 people in seven states. In the United States, there have been three hepatitis A outbreaks and three norovirus outbreak linked to frozen berries from 1990 to 2016, and since 2011, there have been three hepatitis A outbreaks linked to fresh berries. Globally, from 1983 to 2018, there were 50 outbreaks associated with frozen berries, with 36 caused by norovirus and 14 by hepatitis. While freezing preserves berries, it does not inactive viruses. The berries … [Read more...]
Spot Prawns Norovirus Outbreak in Canada Sickens 60 in Four Provinces
A spot prawns norovirus outbreak in Canada has sickened at least 60 people in four provinces. Two recalls have been issued for these types of fish: one on May 31, 2022, and the second on June 2, 2022. Spot prawns are a very large type of shrimp found in the Pacific Ocean. The case count by province is: British Columbia (18), Alberta (12), Manitoba (19), and Ontario (11). Illness onset dates range between mid-May and late May 2022. Although not all cases have been tested, lab testing has confirmed the presence of norovirus. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is continuing its food safety investigation into the spot prawns norovirus outbreak. Investigations have identified spot prawns as the source of this outbreak. All of those sickened reported eating this type … [Read more...]
