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An outbreak of norovirus infection caused by ice cubes and a leaking air ventilation valve
- Source :
- Epidemiology and Infection
- Publication Year :
- 2018
- Publisher :
- Cambridge University Press (CUP), 2018.
-
Abstract
- A gastrointestinal outbreak was reported among 154 diners who attended a Christmas buffet on the 9 and 10 December 2016. A retrospective cohort study was undertaken. Faecal samples, water, ice and an air ventilation device were tested for indicators and routine pathogens. Altogether 26% (24/91) fulfilled the case definition of having typical viral gastrointestinal symptoms. Norovirus genogroup I was detected in faecal samples from three cases. One of these cases tested positive also for sapovirus and had a family member testing positive for both norovirus and sapovirus. A diner who drank water or drinks with ice cubes (risk ratios (RR) 6.5, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.5–113.0) or both (RR 8.2, 95% CI 1.7–145.5) had an increased risk in a dose-response manner. Ice cubes from three vending machines had high levels of heterotrophic bacteria. A faulty air ventilation valve in the space where the ice cube machine was located was considered a likely cause of this outbreak. Leaking air ventilation valves may represent a neglected route of transmission in viral gastrointestinal outbreaks.
- Subjects :
- 0301 basic medicine
Veterinary medicine
Epidemiology
030106 microbiology
BUILDING DRAINAGE SYSTEM
norovirus
Heterotrophic bacteria
gastrointestinal infections
medicine.disease_cause
Air ventilation valve
law.invention
03 medical and health sciences
0302 clinical medicine
WASTE-WATER
law
Medicine
030212 general & internal medicine
VEGETABLES
RISK
Original Paper
biology
GASTROENTERITIS
business.industry
Outbreak
Sapovirus
Retrospective cohort study
biology.organism_classification
FRESH PRODUCE
3142 Public health care science, environmental and occupational health
3. Good health
CONTAMINATION
food safety
Infectious Diseases
FOODBORNE OUTBREAKS
outbreaks
Relative risk
HEALTH-CARE
Ventilation (architecture)
Norovirus
business
Cohort study
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 14694409 and 09502688
- Volume :
- 147
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Epidemiology and Infection
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....d61b6515f7f7109f21707fb80b6b446f