Work

Epidemiology of Foodborne Norovirus Outbreaks, United States, 2001–2008

Year: 2012

Type: article

Abstract: Noroviruses are the leading cause of foodborne illness in the United States. To better guide interventions, we analyzed 2,922 foodborne disease outbreaks for which norovirus was the suspected or confirmed cause, which had been reported to the Foodborne Disease Outbreak Surveillance System of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention during 2001-2008. On average, 365 foodborne norovirus outbreaks were reported annually, resulting in an estimated 10,324 illnesses, 1,247 health care provider visits, 156 hospitalizations, and 1 death. In 364 outbreaks attributed to a single commodity, leafy vegetables (33%), fruits/nuts (16%), and mollusks (13%) were implicated most commonly. Infected food handlers were the source of 53% of outbreaks and may have contributed to 82% of outbreaks. Most foods were likely contaminated during preparation and service, except for mollusks, and occasionally, produce was contaminated during production and processing. Interventions to reduce the frequency of foodborne norovirus outbreaks should focus on food workers and production of produce and shellfish.

Source: Emerging infectious diseases

DOI: 10.3201/eid1810.120833

Authors: Aron J. Hall, Valerie G. Eisenbart, Amy Lehman Etingüe, L. Hannah Gould, Ben A. Lopman, Umesh D. Parashar

Institutions: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, North Carolina State University, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, University of Illinois System

Language: English

Topic: Viral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology

Subfield: Infectious Diseases

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Zero hunger

Open Access status: diamond

Funders: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases