Category Archives: Norovirus

USA – Norovirus responsible for illness at Rochester Institute of Technology’s Henrietta campus

Posted on October 1, 2021 by | Leave a comment

Outbreak News Today

Norovirus Food Safety kswfoodworld

The Monroe County Department of Public Health has determined norovirus  is likely responsible for recent illnesses on Rochester Institute of Technology’s (RIT) Henrietta campus.

The vast majority of cases were resolved within 24-36 hours without medical treatment. However, some RIT students did need care in the Student Health Center, and a few received care in a local emergency department.

In response, the school has increased deep cleaning and sanitization efforts on high-touch surfaces in residence halls, dining areas, restrooms, and other spaces across campus.

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Posted in food bourne outbreak, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Virus, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, microbial contamination, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Norovirus, outbreak, Virus

USA – Georgetown – Testing shows dozens of illnesses at university likely caused by Norovirus.

Posted on September 27, 2021 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

norovirus-2(1)

Laboratory testing has shown that norovirus is behind dozens of illnesses among students and staff at Georgetown University in Washington D.C.

University officials have been working with public health officials since Sept. 21 when about a dozen students reported symptoms consistent with foodborne illnesses, specifically norovirus.

“On Friday evening, our facilities team began deep cleaning and sanitizing of rooms of affected individuals and all common or shared spaces in our campus residential facilities. They have completed 46 student rooms and will be continuing cleaning throughout the day on Saturday (Sept. 25),” according to a statement from university officials.

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Posted in food bourne outbreak, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Virus, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, microbial contamination, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Norovirus, outbreak, Virus

France – Frozen raw shelled shell meat – Norovirus

Posted on August 24, 2021 by | Leave a comment

Gov france

Identifying information for the recalled product

  • Product category Food
  • Product sub-category Others
  • Product brand name Five Degrees West
  • Names of models or references Frozen shelled raw shell meat in a 500 gr vacuum bag or in a 150 gr vacuum tray
  • Product identification
    GTIN Lot Dated
    3000014760201 200312F – 150 gr vacuum tray Date of minimum durability 03/15/2022
    200312F – Vacuum bag of 500 gr Date of minimum durability 03/15/2022
  • Products List List_products_concerned.pdf Enclosed
  • Packaging150 gr black “skin” vacuum container 500 gr transparent vacuum bag
  • Start date / End of marketing From 03/18/2020 to 08/02/2021
  • Storage temperature Product to be stored in the freezer
  • Health mark FR 56.121.005 CE
  • Geographical sales area Whole France
  • Distributors La vie en rouge – 61400 MORTAGNE AU PERCHE Comptoirs Océaniques – 94320 THIAIS Sur le pont – 29930 PONT AVEN Ecomiam – 29337 QUIMPER CEDEX Classic Fine Foods Hong – Kwai Chung – HONG KONG Selecta-45030-ROVIGO ITAL
  • List of points of saleList_of_sale_v2.pdf

Practical information regarding the recall

  • Reason for recall Presence of Norovirus
  • Risks incurred by the consumer – Norovirus

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Posted in food contamination, food handler, Food Hazard, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Virus, Norovirus, Virus

New Zealand – Paroa Bay brand Raw Oysters – Norovirus

Posted on August 23, 2021 by | Leave a comment

MPI

Updated on 19 August 2021: This recall has been updated to include all product that was purchased between 9 July 2021 up to and including 18 August 2021, as the products may contain norovirus.

10 August 2021: Paroa Bay Oysters Ltd is recalling its Paroa Bay brand Raw Oysters (200ml Pottle) and any other oysters purchased from Paroa Bay Oysters Ltd Factory Shop from 30 July 2021 to 05 August 2021 due to suspected illness.

Product type Fresh and frozen raw oysters
Name of product (size) Paroa Bay brand Raw Oysters (200ml Pottle) fresh and frozen oysters unopened and half shell.
Batch and date marking Fresh and frozen raw oysters: Purchased between 9 July 2021 up to and including 18 August 2021

200ml pottles: Use by dates from 20JUL21 up to and including 22AUG21
Package size and description The product is sold in a 200ml plastic pottle, fresh and frozen oysters unopened and half shell sold in bags or containers of various weights.
Distribution The affected 200ml pottles are sold at:

  • Countdown supermarkets throughout the North Island
  • Ocean Seafoods in Opotiki
  • Paroa Bay Factory Shop in Kawakawa, Bay of Islands.

The affected fresh and frozen oysters sold at :

  • Fruit World Albany
  • Northern Waters Warkworth
  • Paroa Bay Factory Shop in Kawakawa, Bay of Islands.

The product has not been exported.

Consumer advice

Customers are asked to check the batch mark and use by date on the lid of the pottle.

Affected products should not be consumed. There have been reports of associated illness in New Zealand. If you have consumed any of this product and have any concerns about your health, seek medical advice.

Customers should return the product to their retailer for a full refund.

For more information on norovirus 

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Posted in Norovirus

Research – Application of chitosan microparticles against human Norovirus

Posted on August 15, 2021 by | Leave a comment

Journal of Food Protection

Human norovirus (HuNoV) is the leading causative agent of foodborne outbreaks and is associated with the second most prevalent cause of waterborne infections in the United States. The goal of this research was to investigate the antiviral activity of chitosan microparticles (CM) against HuNoV GII.4 Sydney and its cultivable surrogate, Tulane virus (TuV), in suspensions mimicking fecally-contaminated water. CM was prepared by crosslinking chitosan molecules with sodium sulfate, and then its anti-noroviral activity was assessed using infectivity assay on TuV and RT-qPCR on TuV and HuNoV. A 3% CM suspension in PBS (pH 7.2) showed binding to TuV particles but with a negligible impact on virus infectivity (p>0.05). TuV and HuNoV suspended in fecal suspensions showed a 1.5-log10 reduction in genomic copies per ml following a 10-min contact time (p<0.05). Despite the negligible impact on viral infectivity, CM moderately binds to virus particles and helps purify environmental water by removing infectious virus particles. In this study, TuV served as a suitable surrogate for HuNoV by showing a similar log10 reduction in fecal suspension. Overall, the outcomes of thisresearch highlight the potential application of CM as a novel, natural treatment to minimize the spread of water-transmitted viral pathogens.

 

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Posted in Contaminated water, food bourne outbreak, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Technology, Food Virus, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, microbial contamination, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Norovirus, outbreak, Research, Technology, Virus, Water, water microbiology, Water Safety

France – Frozen raw shelled shell meat – Norovirus

Posted on August 12, 2021 by | Leave a comment

Gov france

Identifying information for the recalled product

  • Product category Food
  • Product sub-category Others
  • Product brand name Five Degrees West
  • Names of models or references Frozen shelled raw shell meat in a 500 gr vacuum bag or in a 150 gr vacuum tray
  • Product identification
    GTIN Lot Dated
    3000014760201 200312F – 150 gr vacuum tray Date of minimum durability 03/15/2022
    200312F – Vacuum bag of 500 gr Date of minimum durability 03/15/2022
  • Products List List_products_concerned.pdf Attachment
  • Packaging150 gr black “skin” vacuum container 500 gr transparent vacuum bag
  • Start date / End of marketing From 03/18/2020 to 08/02/2021
  • Storage temperature Product to be stored in the freezer
  • Health mark FR 56.121.005 CE
  • Geographical sales area Whole France
  • Distributors La vie en rouge – 61400 MORTAGNE AU PERCHE Comptoirs Océaniques – 94320 THIAIS On the bridge – 29930 PONT AVEN Ecomiam – 29337 QUIMPER CEDEX Glaces Thiriet – 88510 ELOYES Classic Fine Foods Hong – Kwai Chung – HONG KONG Selecta-45030-ROVIGO ITAL
  • List of points of saleSelling_points_liste.pdf

Practical information regarding the recall

  • Reason for recall Presence of Norovirus
  • Risks incurred by the consumer Norovirus
  • Consumer behaviour Stop consuming
    Return the product to the point of sale
  • Sanitary recommendation People who have consumed the products mentioned above and who have symptoms of gastroenteritis (vomiting, diarrhoea frequently accompanied by a moderate fever), are invited to consult their doctor, notifying him of this consumption. Immunocompromised people should pay particular attention to these symptoms, which may suggest an infection with a virus (Norovirus), responsible for gastroenteritis, the incubation period of which can be up to 48 hours.
  • Contact number0298069413
  • Compensation modalities Repayment

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Posted in food contamination, food handler, Food Hazard, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Virus, Norovirus, Virus

USA – WildFin American Grill linked to Norovirus Outbreak

Posted on August 12, 2021 by | Leave a comment

Food Poison Journal

Norwalk_Caspid

Summary

Seattle King County Department of Public Health is investigating an outbreak of norovirus-like illness with vomiting, diarrhoea, body aches, and chills associated with WildFin American Grill in Renton.

We have not yet identified how norovirus was spread within the restaurant. This is not uncommon for norovirus outbreaks, because the virus can spread through multiple contaminated food items, environmental surfaces, and from person to person.

Illnesses

Since August 2, 2021, 10 people from three meal parties reported becoming ill after consuming food from WildFin American Grill on July 29, 2021.

We have identified one ill employee so far who experienced symptoms consistent with norovirus dating back to August 4, 2021, but who did not work while contagious. Further investigation is ongoing.

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Posted in food bourne outbreak, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Virus, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, microbial contamination, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Norovirus, outbreak, Virus

UK – Norovirus outbreak forces closure of soft play centre

Posted on August 12, 2021 by | Leave a comment

Coventry Telegraph

Food Borne Illness - Norovirus -CDC Photo

A norovirus outbreak has forced the closure of soft play world in Nuneaton.

Bermuda Adventure Soft Play World has had to shut its doors for 48 hours.

Coventry Live has seen a message which explains that an outbreak of norovirus is behind the temporary closure.

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Posted in Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, microbial contamination, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Norovirus

Russia – Norovirus outbreak sickens dozens of children onboard train

Posted on August 11, 2021 by | Leave a comment

Outbreak News Today

norovirus-2(1)

“87 children who were poisoned on the Murmansk-Adler train are being treated in the hospitals of the Kuban. As of August 8, there are 67 minors in Tuapse CRH # 1 with intestinal infection, in Apsheronskaya – 12, in Belorechenskaya – 8. Doctors assess the condition of children as mild and moderate”.

A  criminal case was opened on the fact of poisoning the children. The employee of the restaurant car, where the children ate before the poisoning, was  suspended  from work.

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Posted in food bourne outbreak, food contamination, food handler, Food Hazard, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Virus, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Norovirus, outbreak, Virus

RASFF Alert- Norovirus – Frozen Raw Edible Heart Pulp from Cerastoderma

Posted on August 6, 2021 by | Leave a comment

RASFF

Presence of Norovirus DNA in frozen raw edible heart pulp 100% edible cerastoderma from France in Italy

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Posted in food contamination, food handler, Food Hazard, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Virus, Norovirus, RASFF, Virus