Norovirus GII.17 Outbreak Linked to an Infected Post-Symptomatic Food Worker in a French Military Unit Located in France

• Published in: Food and environmental virology Vol. 9; no. 2; pp. 234 - 237
• Main Authors: Sanchez, Marc-Antoine, Corcostégui, Simon-Pierre, De Broucker, Charles-Arnaud, Cabre, Olivier, Watier-Grillot, Stéphanie, Perelle, Sylvie, Ambert-Balay, Katia, Pommier de Santi, Vincent
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01-06-2017; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adult; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Brief Communication; Caliciviridae Infections - epidemiology; Caliciviridae Infections - virology; Chemistry/Food Science; Disease Outbreaks; Female; Food contamination; Food Handling - manpower; Food Science; France; Gastroenteritis; Gastroenteritis - epidemiology; Gastroenteritis - virology; Genotype; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Military; Military Facilities - manpower; Military Personnel - statistics & numerical data; Norovirus; Norovirus - classification; Norovirus - genetics; Norovirus - isolation & purification; Occupational health; Outbreaks; Virology; Vomiting; France; Prevention; Military personnel; Foodborne outbreak; Norovirus GII.17
• ISSN: 1867-0334; 1867-0342
• DOI: 10.1007/s12560-016-9274-0

In February 2016, an outbreak of gastroenteritis occurred in a French military unit located in Poitiers, France. Attack rate was of 34% (103/300). A case–control study identified association between illness and cake consumption. Stool samples were tested positive for Norovirus GII.17 for one patient and one post-symptomatic food worker (FW). The FW presented vomiting one day before cake preparation. The NoV strain was probably spread through food worker hand contact. Prevention of Norovirus foodborne outbreaks implies new guidelines for FWs management in France and Europe.