| Issue Date | 23.2.2019 |
|---|---|
| Source of Information | Centre for Food Safety |
| Food Product | Raw oysters |
| Product Name and Description | Raw oysters harvested in zone 56.09.3, Morbihan Department, France |
| Reason For Issuing Alert |
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| Action Taken by the Centre for Food Safety |
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| Advice to the Trade |
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| Advice to Consumers |
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| Further Information | The CFS press release |
Federal health officials reported another cruise ship outbreak this week. According to officials, 91 passengers and crew onboard the Princess Cruises February 8–18, 2019 Island Princess voyage were stricken with symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea.
Today, Dr. Thomas I. Nary, the Director of University Health Services at Boston College (BC) reported that laboratory tests from three patients treated early last week revealed the presence of Norovirus.
The confirmation comes after Nary said Friday several dozen students reported to University Health Services last week with symptoms related to gastrointestinal illness. He noted at the time there were no confirmed Norovirus cases.
An aggressive cleaning by BC Housekeeping and Dining Services have limited the spread of the illness on campus. Staff disinfected common touch-points–such as switch panels, faucets, doorknobs, and handrails–throughout campus, and restrooms in all residence halls were treated with disinfectant. Salad bars were closed and self-service food items were removed from dining halls, measures consistent with the recommendations of the Department of Public Health. As a result, there has been a steady reduction of student visits to University Health Services since the beginning of last week.
RASFF – norovirus (GI and GII /2g) in live oysters (Crassostrea gigas) from Portugal in the Netherlands
In a follow-up on a report approximately one week ago, Vessel Sanitation Program officials confirmed the etiology of the gastrointestinal outbreak on the Viking Ocean Cruises vessel, Viking Sea was Norovirus.
A possible norovirus outbreak has been associated with La Fuente restaurant, located at 14400 South East Petrovitsky Road in Renton, Washington, according to a press release by the King County Public Health Department. Twenty-eight people are sick after eating food and drinking beverages there on January 25, 2019. The 28 people were all from one party.
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More than two dozen people have been sickened with symptoms of nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea linked to La Fuente in Renton, WA, according to King County health officials.
Officials are investigating an outbreak of 28 norovirus-like illnesses from one meal party who became ill after consuming food and beverage from La Fuente on January 25, 2019.
Environmental Health investigators visited the restaurant on January 29. Investigators learned of a possible ill customer at the restaurant on January 25. If this customer was infected with norovirus, this could have contaminated the bathroom area with norovirus. The investigators observed improper handwashing and inadequate handwashing facilities. No employees reported being ill.
Fresh / frozen raspberries and lettuce were sampled from UK retail outlets over a 13 months, and tested for Norovirus.
5.3% of lettuce, 2.3% of fresh raspberry, and 3.6% of frozen raspberry samples were Norovirus-positive.
The data raises whether food safety management systems are being effectively implemented in these food supply chains.
To acquire data on contamination with Norovirus in berry fruit and salad vegetables in the United Kingdom, one thousand one hundred and fifty two samples of fresh produce sold at retail in the UK were analysed for Norovirus. Of 568 samples of lettuce, 30 (5.3%) were Norovirus-positive. Most (24/30) lettuce samples which tested positive for Norovirus were grown in the UK and 19 of those 24 samples contained NoV GI. Seven/310 (2.3%) samples of fresh raspberries were Norovirus-positive. Most (6/7) of the positively-testing fresh raspberry samples were imported, but no predominance of a genogroup, or any seasonality, was observed. Ten/274 (3.6%) samples of frozen raspberries were Norovirus-positive. The country of origin of the positively-testing frozen raspberry samples was not identified in most (7/10) instances. The collected data add to the currently limited body of prevalence information on Norovirus in fresh produce, and indicate the need for implementation of effective food safety management of foodborne viruses.
Thirty-one passengers onboard Viking Ocean Cruises, Viking Sea January 18–28, 2019 voyage, according to federal health officials.
31 of 925 passengers (3.35%) presented with diarrhea and vomiting, To date, no etiology has been identified.
Officials will board the ship in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on January 28 to conduct an epidemiologic investigation and environmental health assessment and evaluate the outbreak and response activities.
In a follow-up on the gastrointestinal outbreak reported on a voyage earlier this month on Royal Caribbean’s vessel, Oasis of the Seas, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported Wednesday that the causative agent was indeed, Norovirus.
FoodWorld 