Category Archives: Virus

USA – Patient dies in hepatitis A outbreak traced to restaurants in Virginia

Posted on October 18, 2021 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

One person has died in a hepatitis A outbreak associated with three restaurants in the Roanoke, VA, area, according to state officials, and two more people have been added to the patient list.

“We don’t believe there is an ongoing threat to the public,” said Christ Wills of the Roanoke City and Alleghany Health Districts, which is a subagency of the Virginia health department.

However, Wills told Food Safety News today there will likely be more sick people than the 37 who have been identified because of the long incubation time for the virus. As of today, 26 of the patients have been so sick they had to be admitted to hospitals. The age range of patients is now trending to include younger patients with people from 31 to 79 years old now infected. 

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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, Hepatitis A, outbreak, Virus

USA – Restaurant-related Hepatitis A outbreak doubles in size; more illnesses likely

Posted on October 11, 2021 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

The case count in a hepatitis A outbreak linked to restaurants in Virginia has doubled. At least 30 people are now infected with the virus, which can cause life-threatening liver infections.

Health officials said the window for symptoms to appear is ongoing, so they may continue to hear of new cases for at least a few more weeks, according to the Roanoke Times. It can take up to 50 days after exposure to the virus for symptoms to begin, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

At least three of the patients have been admitted to hospitals.

The infected people ate at three Famous Anthony’s restaurants, according to the Virginia Department of Health. Cynthia Morrow from the Roanoke City and Alleghany Health Districts provided an update on the outbreak recently.

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Posted in 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, Hepatitis A, Virus

Norway – searches for source of hepatitis A outbreak – food suspected

Posted on October 7, 2021 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

Norwegian public health officials are investigating an outbreak of hepatitis A that has affected 10 people.

The Norwegian Institute of Public Health (FHI) reported an investigation has been started with local health services and the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (Mattilsynet) but the suspected source is unknown.

Infection has been detected in 10 people living in several counties. Another two people are suspected of being part of the outbreak.

Samples were taken from April to September and sequencing shows hepatitis A virus (HAV) with an identical sequence of genotype 1A in all of the patients. This suggests they were infected from the same source.

Sick people are between 25 and 80 years old with a median age of 53. Sixty percent are men.

Widely distributed food suspected
Six patients live in Viken, two in Trøndelag and one each in Oslo, Vestfold og Telemark, Innlandet and Troms og Finnmark.

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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 Virus, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Hepatitis A, outbreak, Virus

USA – Rochester Institute of Technology update on Norovirus Outbreak

Posted on October 4, 2021 by | Leave a comment

Food Poison Journal

norovirus-1080x655

The Monroe County Department of Public Health has determined norovirus — a contagious family of viruses — is likely responsible for recent illnesses on RIT’s 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 to these cases, we have substantially increased our already stringent deep cleaning and sanitization efforts on high-touch surfaces in residence halls, dining areas, restrooms, and other spaces across campus.

Even with the number of cases declining in the past few days, we all must take steps to stay safe. If you are ill, please stay home and do not attend class or go to work. Remember to wash your hands often, stay in your residence when sick, and avoid preparing food for others.

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USA – More patients identified in hepatitis A outbreak linked to restaurants

Posted on October 1, 2021 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

At least three people have been admitted to hospitals in a growing outbreak of hepatitis A linked to restaurants in Virginia.

There are now 14 people confirmed infected, according to state health officials. Four of those patients are new since the outbreak was initially reported on Sept. 24. 

Additional patients are highly likely to be identified. It takes 15 to 50 days for hepatitis A symptoms to develop, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The infected people ate at three Famous Anthony’s restaurants, according to the Virginia Department of Health. Cynthia Morrow from the Roanoke City and Alleghany Health Districts provided an update on the outbreak earlier this week.

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Posted in 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, Hepatitis A, Virus

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

USA – Famous Anthony’s Hepatitis A Outbreak Sickens 10 in Roanoke, VA

Posted on September 27, 2021 by | Leave a comment

Food Poisoning Bulletin

A potential Famous Anthony’s hepatitis A outbreak in Roanoke, Virginia has sickened at least 10 people, according to news reports and the Roanoke City and Alleghany Health Districts. An employee who tested positive for the virus worked while infectious at three Famous Anthony’s restaurants that are located on Grandin Road, Williamson Road, and Crystal Spring Avenue in that city. All ten patients were hospitalized. Officials think the case count will increase.

The employee worked there between August 10 and August 26, 2021. That means that it is too late for anyone who was exposed there during that time frame to get the hepatitis A or immune globulin vaccine. The vaccine is only effective if given within two weeks of exposure.

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France – Frozen raw shelled shell meat – Norovirus

Posted on September 21, 2021 by | Leave a comment

Gov france

Identifying information for the recalled product

  • Product category Food
  • Product sub-category Others
  • Product brand name Neutral
  • Names of models or references Frozen shelled raw shell meat in a 1 kg vacuum bag
  • Product identification
    GTIN Lot Dated
    3760201462119 200123D Date of minimum durability 01/25/2022
  • Products List List_products_concerned.pdfEnclosed
  • Packaging Flexible / flexible transparent thermoformed plastic bags
  • Start date / End of marketing From 04/26/2021 to 09/13/2021
  • Storage temperature Product to be stored in the freezer
  • Health mark FR 56.121.005 CE
  • Geographical sales area Whole France
  • Distributors Le Repaire de Cartouche Les Viviers de Saint Colomban La Paimpolaise Conserverie Kaviari SAS Soprolux Gourmets de l’Ain The Baskets at the Château Le Coin des Chefs
  • List of points of sale List_of_sale_points.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 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, 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