Category Archives: Norovirus

USA – Surveillance for Foodborne Disease Outbreaks, United States, 2017 Annual Report

CDC

  • Highlights
  • In 2017, 841 foodborne disease outbreaks were reported, resulting in 14,481 illnesses, 827 hospitalizations, 20 deaths, and 14 food product recalls.
  • Norovirus was the most common cause of confirmed, single-etiology outbreaks, accounting for 140 (35%) outbreaks and 4,092 (46%) illnesses. Salmonella
    was the next most common cause, accounting for 113 (29%) outbreaks and 3,007 (34%) illnesses, followed by Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli, which caused 19 (5%) outbreaks and 513 (6%) illnesses, and Clostridium perfringens, which
    caused 19 (5%) outbreaks and 478 (5%) illnesses.
  • Mollusks (41 outbreaks), fish (37), and chicken (23) were the most common single food categories implicated. The most outbreak associated illnesses were from turkey (609 illnesses), fruits (521), and chicken (487).
  • As reported in previous years, restaurants (489) outbreaks, 64% of outbreaks for which a single location of preparation was reported), specifically
    restaurants with sit-down dining (366, 48%), were the most commonly reported locations of food preparation associated with outbreaks.

RASFF Alert – Foodborne Outbreak Norovirus (GI, GII) – Live Oysters

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RASFF – foodborne outbreak suspected to be caused by and norovirus (GI, GII) in live oysters (Crassostrea gigas) from France in Denmark

Norovirus -Ireland, Australia and the University of Alabama in Huntsville

Outbreak News Today

Nine patients and two staff with Norovirus symptoms at Limerick hospital

Health officials confirm UAH outbreak was norovirus

Norovirus outbreak hits Brisbane hospital

Visiting restrictions at Cork hospital after vomiting bug incidents 

UA Researchers Developing New, Inexpensive Method to Detect Norovirus

RASFF Alert – Norovirus – Frozen Seaweed Salad

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RASFF – norovirus (GII /25g) in frozen seaweed salad from Taiwan in Italy

Norway – Norway norovirus outbreaks linked to seaweed salad from China

Food Safety News

More than 100 people have fallen ill in Norway from norovirus likely in a frozen seaweed salad from China.

The first outbreak of norovirus suspected to be linked to the seaweed salad occurred in mid-June and the most recent was at the beginning of August. The implicated product was also shipped to Denmark.

“It is suspected that seaweed from China was the cause of more than 100 cases of gastroenteritis from at least 11 eateries in different areas of Norway. Most of the outbreaks were in June and July this year. Investigations are still ongoing. Norovirus was detected in patients from at least two of these eateries,” Guri Aanderud, senior adviser in the seafood section at the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (Mattilsynet) told Food Safety News.

Cruise ship outbreaks down in 2019

Outbreak News Today

As we near the end of August, it is quite noticeable that the number of cruise ship outbreaks investigated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) is less than recent previous years.

Thus far in 2019, CDC-VSP officials investigated five outbreaks- all before early April, nothing since. The most recent outbreak being Oceania Cruises, Oceania Marina 3/18 to 4/5 voyage.

While the year is not over, it is a slower season.

This compares to 11 outbreaks investigated in all of 2018, 11 in 2017 and 13 in 2016.

Of the 40 outbreaks reported by VSP, 27 were due to norovirus, 2 were Enterotoxigenic E. coli(ETEC), one each of Clostridium perfringens, rotavirus, norovirus and Campylobacter and norovirus and ETEC.

UK – Norovirus bug the cause of Telford hotel illness outbreak

Shropshire Star Eurofins

Provisional tests carried out by Public Health England have confirmed that the group who attended the Buckatree Hall Hotel near Wellington on August 7 were struck down by the sickness bug norovirus, which was unlikely to have been spread by hotel staff.

This means that the illness that causes sickness had been spread by someone carrying the viral infection.

PHE said it was “unlikely that this is a member of staff at the hotel” due to no other reports among other guests who ate the same food falling ill.

Ann Fleming, Public Health England regional spokesperson, said: “We have just received confirmation that the samples from our laboratories have tested positive for norovirus.

“No other organisms has been detected so far.

“All the food samples have tested negative.

“There are no reports of illness in guests outside of the wedding party.”

Norovirus, often associated with hospitals, is one of the most contagious causes of gastrointestinal illness.

PHE said further tests were due to be completed and that the hotel was due to be contacted with the provisional results.

There were no reports of sickness from any other party eating at the venue on the same day and it has had no further reports on subsequent days.

Summary of the last two weeks RASFF Alerts – Foodborne Outbreak – Norovirus – Frozen Seaweed Salad

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RASFF – foodborne outbreak suspected to be caused by norovirus (GI & GII /25g) in frozen seaweed salad from China, via Germany in Spain

Research – Norovirus most often responsible for foodborne outbreaks in Finland

Food Safety News norovirus-1080x655

More than 130 foodborne outbreaks were recorded in Finland between 2014 and 2016, according to a recent report.

Data comes from a register of foodborne and waterborne outbreaks maintained by the former Finnish Food Safety Authority (Evira) that became the Finnish Food Authority (Ruokavirasto) at the beginning of this year.

The number of people infected from foodborne pathogens was 2,761 in 132 outbreaks. Forty-eight people needed hospital treatment. No deaths were reported.

Vegetables and meat common food sources
Norovirus remained the most common agent in foodborne outbreaks between 2014 and 2016. It was responsible for 42, or 32 percent, of such outbreaks.

RASFF Alerts – Norovirus – Live Oysters – Live Clams

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RASFF – norovirus (genogroup II) in live oysters from France in Spain

RASFF – norovirus (GI /2g) in live oysters (Crassostrea gigas) from France in Spain

RASFF – norovirus (GI and GII /2g) in live venus clams (Chamelea gallina) from Italy in Spain