Category Archives: Virus

USA -Hepatitis A Exposure at Old Mill Tavern in Homosassa, FL

Posted on February 11, 2020 by KSW | Leave a comment

A food service worker at Old Mill Tavern in Homosassa, Florida has been diagnosed with hepatitis A, according to the Florida Department of Health in Citrus County (DOH-Citrus). That person worked at that restaurant, located at 10465 West Yulee Drive in Homosassa, from January 19 through February 3, 2020.

It’s too late for anyone who ate at the Old Mill Tavern before January 27, 2020 to get vaccinated against the virus, since the vaccines are effective if given within two weeks of exposure. Those people should contact their doctors, and watch for the symptoms of hepatitis A.

A hepatitis A or immune globulin vaccination is recommended for anyone who ate or drank at this restaurant between January 28 through February 3, 2020. If you have had the vaccine or have had a hepatitis A infection in the past your are considered immune and do not have to take action.

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Posted in food contamination, food handler, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Virus, Hepatitis A, Uncategorized, Virus, Virus Vaccination

Cruise Ship – Cruise ship outbreak: 190 sickened onboard Princess Cruises’ Caribbean Princess

Posted on February 10, 2020 by KSW | Leave a comment

Outbreak News Today

Federal health officials report investigating a gastrointestinal disease outbreak on a Princess Cruises’ Caribbean Princess February 2–16, 2020 voyage.

To date, 190 passengers and crew have experienced symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea. The exact etiology of the outbreak has not been determined.

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Posted in food contamination, food handler, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Virus, foodborne disease, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Norovirus, Uncategorized, Virus

USA – Hepatitis A Outbreak tied to Long Beach 555 East American Steakhouse

Posted on February 10, 2020 by KSW | Leave a comment

Food Poison Journal

The Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services (Health Department) is investigating an outbreak of hepatitis A associated with 555 East American Steakhouse in downtown Long Beach. Several cases of hepatitis A have been confirmed in individuals who ate at the restaurant on or around December 24, 2019. Those who ate there during that time may have been exposed. The source of the illness is still under investigation, and the restaurant’s management and staff are fully cooperating with Health Department officials to prevent further illness. The restaurant does not pose an ongoing risk to the public at this time.

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Posted in food contamination, food handler, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Virus, Hepatitis A, Uncategorized, Virus

Research -How Do You Know If You Have a Hepatitis A Infection?

Posted on February 10, 2020 by KSW | Leave a comment

Food Poisoning Bulletin

Hepatitis A is a very contagious virus that can cause serious illness and death. In recent years, a huge hepatitis A outbreak in the United States has been ongoing since 2016. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 30,000 people have. even sickened, almost 19,000 patients have been hospitalized, and more than 300 people have died. How do you know if you have a hepatitis A infection?

Hepatitis A can spread in food establishments through infected food handlers.

Click to access ABCTable.pdf

Link to CDC Information

Click to access ABCTable.pdf

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Posted in food contamination, food handler, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Safety, Food Testing, Food Virus, Hepatitis A, Uncategorized, Virus, Virus Vaccination

UK – Nearly 200 ill in UK after eating oysters – No Recalls?

Posted on February 10, 2020 by KSW | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

Almost 200 people have fallen ill after eating oysters in the United Kingdom in recent months.

Since November 2019 there have been at least 180 reported cases of gastroenteritis associated with oyster consumption linked to multiple food outlets and oyster producers.

A Public Health England spokeswoman told Food Safety News that norovirus had been identified as the cause of a number of these outbreaks.

“Public Health England is working with the Food Standards Agency and Food Standards Scotland, and affected local authorities, to investigate outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness reported since November 2019 associated with consumption of oysters.”

Officials say there is no connection to the norovirus outbreaks from oysters in Europe. In Sweden, 70 people fell sick after eating oysters, some of which came from domestic production and others from France.

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RASFF Alert – Norovirus – Live Oysters

Posted on February 7, 2020 by KSW | Leave a comment

RASFF – norovirus (GII /2g) in live oysters from France in Italy

RASFF – norovirus (GI, GII /2g) in live oysters from France in Italy

RASFF – norovirus (GI and GII /g) in live oysters (Crassostrea Gigas) from France in Italy

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

RASFF Alert- Foodborne Outbreak suspected (norovirus) – Live Oysters

Posted on February 7, 2020 by KSW | Leave a comment

RASFF – foodborne outbreak suspected (norovirus) to be caused by live oysters from France in the Netherlands

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Posted in food bourne outbreak, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, 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, RASFF, Uncategorized, Virus

USA – Vicksburg restaurant worker exposes customers to Hepatitis A

Posted on February 3, 2020 by KSW | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) is investigating a case of hepatitis A in a Warren County restaurant employee that may have led to exposure for customers. MSDH has set up free hepatitis A vaccinations today and tomorrow for those who might have been exposed to the virus

An employee of the Gumbo Pot, 3401 Halls Ferry Road #5 in Vicksburg, has been diagnosed with a hepatitis A infection. While infectious, the employee worked at the restaurant on Jan. 17, 18 and 22. Customers who ate at the restaurant on those days may have been exposed to hepatitis A.

Vaccination can prevent hepatitis A only if given within 14 days of exposure. Because those who ate at the restaurant on Jan. 17 and 18 would have been exposed more than 14 days ago, they should watch for any possible symptoms of hepatitis A and see their doctor if they become ill. Those who ate at the restaurant on January 22 should get the hepatitis A vaccination if they have not been previously vaccinated.

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Posted in food contamination, food handler, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Virus, Hepatitis A, Uncategorized, Virus, Virus Vaccination

Research – Come on in: Bile acids open the door to Norovirus infection

Posted on February 2, 2020 by KSW | Leave a comment

BCM

Some people call it the ship cruise virus, but norovirus can be found in many other places. People can catch this very contagious virus from an infected person, contaminated food or water or by touching contaminated surfaces. The virus causes acute gastroenteritis – the stomach and/or the intestines get inflamed, and this leads to stomach pain, nausea, diarrhea and vomiting. Noroviruses are the leading cause of foodborne illness.

“In the Science paper, we showed that bile, a yellowish fluid produced by the liver that helps digest fats in the small intestine, was key to successfully culturing certain strains of norovirus in the lab,” said Victoria R. Tenge, graduate student of molecular virology and microbiology in the Estes’s lab. “The work discussed here (of which Tenge is co-first author) shows the results of our continuing investigations to identify the bile components that are involved in promoting norovirus infection.”