Agri-Food MIG Foodborne Viruses Update RASFF/ Outbreaks / Recalls
RASFF reports 2017 Q4-2018 Q1
Date of case Notification from Subject Risk Decision Notification type Action taken 19/01/2018 Italy norovirus (Genogroup GII /25g) in frozen wild blueberries from France serious Food - alert - official control on the market No information 18/01/2018 Italy norovirus (GII /g) in live oysters (Crassostrea gigas) from France serious Food - alert - official control on the market Official detention 17/01/2018 Netherlands norovirus (GII /25g) in strawberries from Spain, dispatched from the Netherlands serious Food-information for attention - company's own check Informing recipients (Norway / Spain) 16/01/2018 Italy Norovirus GII in blackberries from Mexico serious Food - information for attention official control on the market No information 10/01/2018 Italy norovirus (GII/2g) in live flat oysters (Ostrea edulis) from france serious Food - alert - official control on the market Official detention 28/12/2017 Italy foodborne outbreak caused by and norovirus (presence) in live oysters (Crassostea gigas) from France serious Withdrawal from the market Official detention 11/12/2017 Italy norovirus (present) in live oysters from France serious Food - alert - official control on the market Official detention 09/10/2017 Italy norovirus (viral RNA detected) in live oysters from Spain, with raw material from Portugal serious Food - alert - official control on the market Official detention 22/12/2017 Belgium norovirus (present /25g) in frozen organic red fruit from Germany serious Food-alert-company's own check Withdrawal from the market 19/12/2017 Sweden norovirus (presence /25g) in frozen raspberries from Serbia serious Food - information for attention - food poisoning Public warning - press release
Norovirus October 2017 Mid January 2018
Norovirus Outbreaks Quebec and Minnesota 615 confirmed cases between March and July 2017 in Quebec, 15 cases in Minnesota. Quebec outbreak included clients and staff of 7 elderly care homes, 2 day-care centres and one hotel. 141 victims were employees of at least 2 of the care homes. 4 were employees of the daycare centres. ~250 were elderly residents and 33 were children. Minnesota outbreak was linked to ice cream (raspberry choc-chip flavour). The raspberries were imported frozen from China Same frozen raspberries imported from China were to blame for outbreaks in Quebec.
Norovirus Outbreak Tacoma 434 confirmed cases in January 2018, linked to two El Toro restaurants Two staff members at the Tacoma location worked while ill during the time customers dined and later got sick. It s still unclear if the outbreaks at the two locations are connected * Because of the nature of norovirus outbreaks, we may never know the exact affected items that caused illness, All the cases have dining at the El Toro Restaurants in common, she said. *Marler Clark 2018
Norovirus Outbreak Denmark 10 confirmed cases in November 2017, linked to the consumption of raw oysters from Lemvig. The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration (DVFA) closed the area warning consumers not to collect seafood in the area The contaminated batch of oysters was withdrawn and discarded. Food Quality News
Norovirus Outbreak Kyoto, Japan December 2017 70 consumers who ate at a hot springs inn developed food poisoning 8 confirmed as having norovirus Kyoto Prefectural Government ordered the inn to suspend business for three days Local authorities believe the virus originated from an employee. Barfblog
Norovirus Outbreaks Cruise Ships January 2018 200 passengers (7% of passengers on board) on the Sea Princess suffered gastroenteritis due to norovirus (Brisbane to New Zealand) December 2017 332 passengers (7% of passengers on board) on the Ovation of the Seas (Royal Carribean) suffered gastroenteritis due to norovirus (Sydney to Singapore)
Norovirus Outbreaks UK Hospitals December 2017 (Chronicle live) 180 patients and staff in 4 North east hospitals hit by norovirus, forcing 7 wards to close Northumbria Healthcare Trust says the NHS body believes the outbreak started when a visitor brought mussels for an inpatient at Wansbeck General Hospital, Northumberland
Norovirus - Recalls Jütro Tiefkühlkost GmbH & Co., frozen foods in Germanyrecall frozen raspberries- risk of Norovirus (FQN 16/11/17) Sweden- ICA recalled frozen raspberries risk of norovirus positive test result. A total of 13,440 bags have now been recalled. According to the National Food Administration, it is not uncommon for frozen raspberries to be contaminated with norovirus. The recommendation is therefore that frozen raspberries imported from abroad are boiled for at least one minute before eating.
Foodborne Virus Outbreak / Recalls
HAV outbreak NSW Australia Oct 2017 Australia- NSW food authority issued alert for diners at a Sydney Japanese restaurant (Sokyo) in the Star Casino complex after a food handler who worked in a "hot food area" of the restaurant's kitchen was diagnosed with Hepatitis A. Authorities believe the food handler acquired the infection overseas during a recent holiday Diners who ate at the restaurant in Sept & Oct- advised to contact GP if they have concerns.
Multistate HAV outbreak US (CNN) Ongoing since August 2017. Origin California Traced to transient camps and illicit drug users in San Diego Now the largest outbreak of hepatitis A since the vaccine became available in the mid 90 s. San Diego, California has seen the most deaths 21 out of a reported 686 cases with 443 hospitalizations Disease spread to other states via the homeless population This outbreak is caused by virus genotype IB, which is normally not found in the US; it's more common to the Mediterranean, Turkey and South Africa.
HAV outbreak - Utah Ongoing since August 2017. Two restaurants linked to the outbreak. Early January 2018 Utah officials reported a 7-Eleven employee could have exposed as many as 2,000 people to HAV by working whilst infected. Issue of report left only a couple of days for people to get post infection preventive treatment (should be given within 2 weeks of the exposure). Can take up to 50 days for symptoms to develop. As of 12 th January: 152 cases HAV confirmed in Utah 68 hospitalizations no deaths
HAV outbreak - Michigan Linked to main HAV outbreak 677 currently ill in Michigan with 15-20 cases being added each week 539 hospitalizations 22 deaths reported No contaminated foods yet found National shortage of vaccines Conclusion Concern is that food service workers getting ill may contaminate foods with no symptoms showing until after the disease has potentially been spread via infected food handlers.
HAV outbreak UK & EU 22 European countries affected (inc. England and Wales) ~1,000 people affected 950 confirmed cases (Sep - Dec 2017) Since outbreak began in June 2016, 3,813 confirmed cases Main route of infection is sexually transmitted, however as with the outbreak in the US, infection can spread to other people by eating food prepared by someone who has the condition, and hasn t washed their hands properly, the NHS warned.
FDA: Hepatitis A in tuna December 2017: FDA issued import alert over Hepatitis A in tuna Raw frozen tuna from two suppliers in Asia. 1. Seafood Co. Ltd. in Can Lam, Vietnam 2. P.T. Deho Canning Company in North Sulawesi, Indonesia FDA believe due to unsanitary conditions in production or packing facilities e.g. poor worker hygiene, inadequate sanitation facilities and / or a contaminated water supply. Follows on from follow-up after Hawaii DoH notified the FDA of tuna sample sourced from P.T. Deho Canning Co. Testing positive for HAV in May 2017 As a result of the alert, FDA may detain, without physical examination, shipments of fresh or frozen raw seafood from Sustainable Seafood Co. and P.T. Deho Canning Company
FDA: Import alert #25-20 Published date: 12/01/2018 Detention Without Physical Examination of Green Onions (Scallions) from Specific Firms in Mexico Charge: "The article is subject to refusal of admission pursuant to Section 801(a)(3) in that such article appears to contain Hepatitis A Virus, a poisonous or deleterious substance which may render it injurious to health. [Adulteration, Section 402(a)(1)]. "The article is subject to refusal of admission pursuant Section 801(a)(3) in that it (article) appears to have been prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions whereby it may have become contaminated with filth, or whereby it may have been rendered injurious to health. [Adulteration, Section 402(a)(4)]."
HEV Seminar Campden BRI November 2017 Highlights and update to be presented on 20 th March in a Campden webinar. 40 delegates with speakers from: -National Pig Association -Public Health England -RIVM, Netherlands -Wageningen University, Netherlands -Glasgow Caledonian University -Food Standards Agency
Plans in place to implement a detection method for the presence of HEV in pork meat and pork products watch this space!
Virus Club Project Questionnaire currently out to VFG members Several suggestions for projects related to virus priorities for industry members including Further heat resistance trials Investigation of viable virus / PCR signal correlation Virus viability (PMA/EMA) Virus training course and guidelines Please talk to Annette or myself if interested in knowing more or are interested in joining the focus group.
And finally.. Successful UKAS Accreditation gained for: Detection of Norovirus and Hepatitis A Virus on fresh and frozen produce First lab in UK with UKAS accreditation for this method. (only lab in UK) NoVAS FSA report on burden of illness due to norovirus in foods will be published this year.