Epidemiology of Foodborne Norovirus Outbreak in Incheon, Korea

Abstract

On June 14, 2008, an outbreak of gastroenteritis occurred among elementary school students in Incheon. We conducted an investigation to identify the source and described the extent of the outbreak. We performed a retrospective cohort study among students, teachers and food handlers exposed to canteen food in the elementary school. Using self-administered questionnaires we collected information on symptoms, days of canteen food eaten, food items consumed. Stool samples were collected from 131 symptomatic people and 11 food handlers. The catering kitchen was inspected and food samples were taken. Of the 1,560 people who ate canteen food, 117 were symptomatic cases, and the attack rate was 7.5%. Consumption of cucumber-crown daisy salad (RR=2.71), fresh cabbage mix (RR=2.23), dried radish salad (RR=3.04) and young radish kimchi (RR=2.52) were associated with illness. Sixty-four (45%) of the 142 stool specimens were positive for Norovirus. Norovirus was detected in 2 food handlers. Interviews with kitchen staff indicated the likelihood of contamination from an infected food handler to the dried radish salad during food processing. The excretion of Norovirus from asymptomatic food handlers may be an infection source of Norovirus outbreaks.

Norovirus Contamination Levels in Ground Water Treatment Systems Used for Food-Catering Facilities in South Korea

“…Food poisoning cases continue to arise [32]; therefore, preventative measures should be taken against NoV contamination of groundwater. Although this study examined NoV contamination of drinking water, further studies are required to investigate enteric virus contamination of food.…”

Incidence of Rotavirus, Enteric Adenovirus and Norovirus in Children with Acute Gastroenteritis Under Five Years

“…2010 yılında İngiltere'de geçmişe yönelik taranan örneklerde %4.5 oranında norovirüs belirlemişlerdir (34) . Çin, Kore ve Tayvan gibi Asya ülkelerinde 2005-2009 yılları arasında yapılan çalışmalarda %13.1-45 oranında norovirüs pozitifliğini göstermişlerdir (36)(37) .…”

A food-borne outbreak of gastroenteritis caused by norovirus GII in a university located in Xiamen City, China

“…2 The virus can be excreted in the absence of symptoms, 7 so improper manipulation by an asymptomatic food handler can lead to an outbreak. 8,9 On December 19, 2012, it was reported that 30 people from the university in Jimei District, Xiamen City, China had developed acute diarrhea and fever. Rectal swab samples from seven of the patients were found to be positive for NoV GII using reversetranscriptase PCR (RT-PCR).…”