It’s norovirus season and health officials in Minnesota are warning folks to take extra precautions so that a nasty illness isn't among the things they receive during the holidays. Norovirus is a common and highly contagious group of viruses you can catch any time but caseloads peak between November and January. You can catch norovirus by eating or drinking foods prepared by someone who is infected with the virus, touching contaminated surfaces and then touching food or your mouth; or eating shellfish harvested from contaminated waters. Once ingested, norovirus inflames the stomach lining causing frequent, intense bouts of vomiting and diarrhea paired with severe abdominal cramps. Low-grade fever, chills, muscle aches headache can also occur. Symptoms usually develop one to two days … [Read more...]
Golden Corral Restaurant in Casper Wyoming Closes to Clean
According to the Casper-Natrona County Health Department, the Golden Corral restaurant closed voluntarily for 24 hours to "thoroughly clean and disinfect" the facility. Corporate management proposed the closing to "help break the transmission chain". The health department states that almost 200 people have reported becoming ill after eating at the restaurant in Casper, Wyoming. Public health officials have been investigating this outbreak, but the results of the laboratory tests won't be available for some time. Officials think norovirus is the culprit in this outbreak. The cases fit the pattern, with an illness duration of 24 to 48 hours and symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea, along with fever and headache. Norovirus is the leading cause of food poisoning in the United States and is … [Read more...]
Norovirus Outbreak at Oregon Zoo Meeting
About 90 people have been sickened with norovirus after attending a private meeting at the Oregon Zoo last week. The meeting of Women's HealthCare Associates was attended by more than 200 people. Oregon Live reports that norovirus is "the most likely culprit." Norovirus is extremely contagious and usually spreads person-to-person, or through food contaminated by someone who is infected with the virus. Outbreaks linked to that virus become more common in the cold weather months, when people spend more time indoors. Zoo staff was in charge of catering the event. No one has been hospitalized, but several people have reported being very ill. Those at the meeting were served breakfast, which included fruit and pastries. The Oregon state public health lab is waiting for tests to try to … [Read more...]
Dishwashers No Match For Norovirus
What do norovirus and baked-on lasagna have in common? Both can survive the dishwasher. Researchers at Ohio State University have made a discovery that may help to explain why restaurants have a hard time controlling the spread of norovirus, the leading cause of food poisoning worldwide. About half of all foodborne illness outbreaks in the US are caused by norovirus, most of them, about 80 percent, happen between November and April, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Norovirus is a virus that can get on food at any point from farm to table. Foods that are eaten raw are such as leafy vegetables, fruit, and shellfish, are most commonly involved in norovirus outbreaks. Sick food handlers are frequently the source of outbreaks such as the recent Salmonella … [Read more...]
Expert Advice About Norovirus Outbreak in Washoe County Nevada
Public Health Officials in Washoe County, Nevada have released a document telling consumers how to stop the norovirus outbreak in their area. The outbreak has sickened more than 1,400 people by the latest count. Officials say that hand washing, exclusion, and environmental cleansing may help stop the illness. Norovirus is highly contagious. The virus causes stomach aches, vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea. This is the longest running outbreak in the county. Most illnesses are in elementary schools and day care facilities. Washoe County District Health Officer Dr. Joseph Iser said in a statement, "every school and day care has complied with our exclusion and cleaning requirements. We have even closed our investigations in some of the first schools that reported the outbreak. But, more … [Read more...]
Mankato Norovirus Outbreak Linked to Sick Najwa’s Catering Employee
According to the Mankato Free Press, an ill food service worker or workers was the source of a norovirus outbreak at the Greater Mankato Growth banquet that sickened 30 to 40 people at the Mankato Civic Center on November 13, 2012. The food service provider, Najwa's Catering, was the source of the outbreak. Public health officials were not able to trace the norovirus source to one particular person. The Minnesota Department of Health told the food service provider of protocols they need to follow when employees are ill. Norovirus causes gastroenteritis, with symptoms of vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, headache, fever, chills, and muscle aches. The symptoms usually start 24 to 48 hours after exposure.\ The virus is easily transmitted from person to person and through … [Read more...]
Norovirus Outbreak at Alexander’s Steakhouse in Peoria, Illinois
The Peoria City/County Health Department is investigating a norovirus outbreak at Alexander's Steakhouse in Peoria, the Peoria Journal Star reports. Thirty-nine of eighty people who attended a banquet for a high school soccer team were sickened. The dinner was held on November 4, 2012. According to the health department, the restaurant has been "very cooperative" in the investigation. Public health officials took samples from the restaurant for testing. The results should be available sometime next week. Norovirus outbreaks are quite common, and usually increase in the fall and winter months, since more people spend more time indoors. The virus is very contagious and easily contaminates food and water. Symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach pain. Food handlers and preparers … [Read more...]
Frozen Strawberries Linked to 11,000 Food Poisoning Norovirus Illnesses in Germany
Frozen strawberries are most likely the cause of a huge food poisoning outbreak that has sickened at least 11,000 students in Germany. The students attended 500 schools and day care centers in the eastern parts of the country in the last week. The cause of the outbreak was norovirus. The Robert Koch Institut, which is used by the German Health Ministry to investigate outbreaks and infectious diseases, said there was a "strong and statistically significant link" between those illnesses and a shipment of frozen strawberries. The Google translation of the statement is as follows: "The largest food-borne outbreak of acute gastroenteritis (diarrhea and vomiting) in Germany is on the currently available data in the most affected provinces over. Only in Saxony, it is on the 4th October … [Read more...]
Food Workers to Blame for Most Norovirus Outbreaks, Study Shows
A study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and published in Emerging Infectious Diseases has found that most norovirus outbreaks are caused by food workers handling food. Norovirus is the leading cause of foodborne illness outbreaks in the United States, responsible for 58% of all outbreaks from known agents. The virus is spread through several methods: person-to-person transmission, ingestion of aerosolized vomitus, and indirect transmission through contaminated surfaces, food, or water. The virus can stay alive on surfaces for two weeks and in water for more than two months. It is also quite resistant to many disinfectants. The most frequent pathways to contamination are through infected food workers or exposure to water contaminated with fecal … [Read more...]
Norovirus Outbreak on Princess Cruise Line Ship Dawn Princess
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued an investigation update on the Norovirus outbreak on the Dawn Princess cruise ship. The ship of part of the Princess Cruises cruise line. Voyage dates were August 21 to September 13, 2012. The number of passengers on the ship is 1,778, and crew members is 851. The passengers who reported being ill numbered 114, or 6.41%, and the number of crew who reported being ill numbered 11, or 1.29%. The symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea are consistent with Norovirus infection. The crew on the ship have taken preventative action according to their outbreak prevention and response plan. They have increased cleaning and disinfection procedures, made announcements to notify passengers of the outbreak, and encouraged reporting and … [Read more...]
