Category Archives: Virus

USA – Hepatitis A Exposure At Kentucky Ave. Burger King in Indianapolis

Food Poisoning Bulletin

A worker at the Burger King at 3311 South Kentucky Avenue, near Mann Road in Indianapolis has been diagnosed with hepatitis A. Anyone who ate at that facility from January 21 through January 24, 2019 may have been exposed to the pathogenic virus.

The Marion Countuy Public Health Department is hating a special clinic on Monday, February 4, 2019, from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm at its South District Health Office at 7551 South Shelby Street. Anyone who visited that restaurant on the above dates can get a vaccination. People who ate there on January 21 have until today to get a shot, since the vaccine is only effective if given within two weeks of exposure. You can also get the shot at doctor’s offices.

The Burger King restaurant management is cooperating with public health officials and is cleaning the restaurant. The restaurant is remaining open while the investigation is ongoing.

USA – Norovirus confirmed as cause of outbreak on ‘Viking Sea’

Outbreak News Today

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.

USA – Norovirus: Suspect cases in Renton, WA; Confirmed cases at the University of Virginia

Outbreak News Today Norovirus Food Safety kswfoodworld

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.

Research – Prevalence of Norovirus in produce sold at retail in the United Kingdom

Science Direct

Highlights

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.

Abstract

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.

USA – Norovirus confirmed as cause of Oasis of the Seas outbreak

Outbreak News Today norovirus-1080x655

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.

RASFF Alert – Norovirus – Live Oysters

RASFF-Logo

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

Europe -Hepatitis A – Annual Epidemiological Report for 2016

ECDC

Publication series: Annual Epidemiological Report on Communicable Diseases in Europe
Time period covered: This report is based on data for 2016 retrieved from The European Surveillance System (TESSy) on 27 November 2017.

USA – Royal Caribbean Norovirus Outbreak Sickens 475 Passengers

Food Poison Journal Norovirus Food Safety kswfoodworld

Norovirus outbreaks increase during the winter months because more people are together indoors. But some venues, such as nursing homes, schools, and cruise ships, can be struck by this virus at any time. A Norovirus outbreak on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship has sickened 475 passengers.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 129,678 passengers were sickened on cruise ships from 2008 to 2014. That seems like a large number, but just 10% of those illnesses were norovirus. And the number of people on those cruses was 74,000,000

 

USA – Public Health Alert Concerning a Possible Hepatitis A Contamination of Bauer’s Candies’ Modjeskas

Food Poison Journal

The FDA is alerting consumers to possible hepatitis A contamination of Bauer’s Candies Modjeskas, an individually wrapped marshmallow candy dipped in chocolate or caramel. We are advising consumers not to eat and to throw away any Bauer’s Candies Chocolate or Caramel Modjeskas, purchased after November 14, 2018 because a worker in the facility tested positive for hepatitis A.

 

USA- Oasis of the Seas: 277 sickened on cruise, voyage cut short – Norovirus?

Outbreak News Today

Health officials are reporting some 277 passengers and crew onboard Royal Caribbean’s vessel, Oasis of the Seas, have fell ill with vomiting being the predominant symptom.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 266 of 6,285 (4.23%) passengers and 11 of 2,169 (0.51%) crew were sickened.

While media reports state the cause of the outbreak as Norovirus, CDC officials report the causative agent as being “unknown” as of Jan. 10.

The ship left left Port Canaveral on a seven-day Western Caribbean cruise on Sunday. The ship will return to Port Canaveral on Saturday, one day ahead of schedule.