Epidemiology of foodborne Norovirus outbreaks in Catalonia, Spain. BMC infectious diseases [BMC Infect Dis] Journal article | | Title | Epidemiology of foodborne Norovirus outbreaks in Catalonia, Spain. | | Author(s) | Martinez A, Dominguez A, Torner N, Ruiz L, Camps N, Barrabeig I, Arias C, Alvarez J, Godoy P, Balana P, Pumares A, Bartolome R, Ferrer D, Perez U, Pinto R, Buesa J, Gastroenteritis Study Group CV | | Source | BMC Infect Dis 2008 Apr 14; 8(1):47. | | Abstract | ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND: Noroviruses are one of the foremost biological agents associated with the consumption of contaminated food. The objective of this work was to study the size and epidemiological characteristics of foodborne outbreaks of gastroenteritis in Catalonia, a region in the northeast of Spain.
METHODS: In all reported outbreaks of gastroenteritis associated with food consumption, fecal samples of persons affected were analysed for bacteria, parasites and viruses. Study variables included the setting, the number of people exposed, age, sex, clinical signs and hospital admissions. The study was carried out from October 2004 to October 2005.
RESULTS: Of the 181 outbreaks reported during the study period, 72 were caused by Salmonella and 30 by norovirus; the incidence rates were 14.5 and 9.9 per 100,000 persons-year, respectively. In 50% of the norovirus outbreaks and 27% of the bacterial outbreaks (p=0.03) the number of persons affected was [greater than or equal to]10; no differences in the attack rates were observed according to the etiology. Hospitalizations were more common (p=0.03) in bacterial outbreaks (8.6%) than in norovirus outbreaks (0.15%). Secondary cases accounted for 4% of cases in norovirus outbreaks compared with 0.3% of cases in bacterial outbreaks (p<0.001)
CONCLUSIONS: Norovirus outbreaks were smaller than bacterial outbreaks, suggesting that underreporting is greater for norovirus outbreaks. Food handlers should receive training on the transmission of infections in diverse situations. Very strict control measures on handwashing and environmental disinfection should be adopted in closed or partially-closed institutions. KEYWORDS: Foodborne outbreak, Norovirus, Infectious gastroenteritis Abreviations RT-PCR : Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction CI: Confidence Interval. | | Language | ENG | | Pub Type(s) | JOURNAL ARTICLE
| | PubMed ID | 18410687 |
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