Category Archives: Virus

USA – New Jersey Department of Health on Hepatitis A at Mendham Golf and Tennis Club

Food Poison Journal

The New Jersey Department of Health is working with the Mendham Township Health Department and the Mendham Golf and Tennis Club (MGTC) in response to a hepatitis A outbreak related to a food handler at the club. MGTC is a members only club.

Hepatitis A is an immediately reportable condition to the Department and the local health department; through this mechanism this case was identified.    The Department of Health is supporting the Mendham Township Health Department—which began immediately investigating. The food handler was excluded from work and a review of other food handlers for vaccination and proof of immunity was conducted.  Close contacts of the food handler were identified and given prophylaxis (vaccine or medication to prevent illness after exposure).

USA – Hepatitis A outbreak in Las Vegas: Should vaccinations be required for food workers?

Reno Gazette Virusds

When the number of hepatitis A cases hit peak levels in Southern Nevada in the late 1990s, health officials required all food workers to get immunization shots to prevent the virus that could cause liver damage and lead to death.

But after the number of cases dropped to historic lows in the 2000s, the immunization rule was eliminated.

Today, hepatitis A cases are now on the rise around the U.S. and in Southern Nevada, where health officials reported last week that an infected Las Vegas 7-Eleven clerk handled hot dogs and hot deli items and exposed an unknown number of customers to the virus.

When should immunization shots be mandated to fight disease?

RASFF Alert – Norovirus – Frozen Seaweed Salad

RASFF-Logo

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.

USA – Hepatitis A in Food Worker at Cracker Barrel in Bridgeport, MI

Food Poisoning Bulletin

A food worker at the Cracker Barrel Restaurant and Old County Store at 6450 Dixie Highway in Bridgeport, Michigan has been diagnosed with hepatitis A, according to the Saginaw County Health Department. That person worked there from August 25 through August 28, 2019. Anyone who visited that facility during that time frame may have been exposed to the virus.

USA – Hepatitis A Again!

Food Poison Journal

The Southern Nevada Health District has identified a person with hepatitis A that worked at a 7-Eleven convenience store located at 2910 S. Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas, NV 89109 (Maryland Parkway and Vegas Valley Drive) while they were potentially infectious to others. Although transmission of hepatitis A from food handlers to patrons is rare, the Health District is informing customers who purchased non-prepackaged foods such as hot dogs or hot deli items between Friday, July 26 and Friday, Aug. 7, 2019, at this 7-Eleven location that they may have been exposed to the virus.

Food Poison Journal

The Saginaw County Health Department (SCHD) has confirmed a case of hepatitis A (HAV) in a foodservice worker at the Cracker Barrel Restaurant and Old Country Store located at 6450 Dixie Highway in Bridgeport, Michigan.

The facility is working with the SCHD during the investigation.

Anyone who visited the Cracker Barrel from August 25-28, 2019 may have been exposed. These individuals are advised to receive the hepatitis A vaccine by September 8, 2019.

Canada – Food Worker with Hepatitis A

So not just in the USA, Canada as well. Is it time for all food workers to be immunised?

Food Poison Journal

Southwestern Public Health advises any patrons who ate at TA Travel Centre’s restaurant at 535 Mill Street (401 exit 230) in Woodstock, ON, between August 6, 2019 and August 22, 2019 that they may have been exposed to the hepatitis A virus.

“Unfortunately, an individual may have hepatitis A and not know it. That is what occurred in this situation. The food service worker handled food in the restaurant, so this communication is relevant to anyone who ordered off the menu in the restaurant or ordered take out.

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.

USA – Food Worker at Ashiya Teriyaki in Lynwood, WA Diagnosed With Hepatitis A

Food Poisoning Bulletin

Another Hepatitis A Case in a restaurant in the USA!

A food worker at Ashiya Teriyaki, located at 1233 164th Street Southwest in Lynnwood, Washington, has been diagnosed with hepatitis A. The Snohomish Health District closed the restaurant on August 15, 2019. Anyone who ate at that venue between August 2 and August 15, 2019 may have been exposed to the virus. Officials say that this case doesn’t seem to be linked to the hepatitis A outbreak in Washington state.

USA -Hepatitis A Outbreak at Mendham Golf and Tennis Club in New Jersey

Food Poisoning Bulletin

hepatitis A outbreak has sickened 23 people after they visited the Mendham Golf and Tennis Club in Mendham Township, New Jersey. This is a members only club. A food handler was diagnosed with hepatitis A and worked at the club while infectious. One person is “seriously ill,” according to the press release by the New Jersey Department of Health.