Epidemiology of Foodborne Norovirus Outbreak in Incheon, Korea
Journal of Korean Medical Science
; : 1128-1133, 2010.
Article
in English
| WPRIM (Western Pacific)
| ID: wpr-43841
Responsible library:
WPRO
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.
Full text:
Available
Health context:
Neglected Diseases
Health problem:
Neglected Diseases
/
Zoonoses
Database:
WPRIM (Western Pacific)
Main subject:
Phylogeny
/
Food Contamination
/
Disease Outbreaks
/
Surveys and Questionnaires
/
Retrospective Studies
/
Cohort Studies
/
Caliciviridae Infections
/
Norovirus
/
Republic of Korea
/
Foodborne Diseases
Type of study:
Etiology study
/
Incidence study
/
Observational study
/
Screening study
Limits:
Adult
/
Child
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Country/Region as subject:
Asia
Language:
English
Journal:
Journal of Korean Medical Science
Year:
2010
Document type:
Article