1
|
Sá R, Roque J, Marques Mendes P, Gonçalves I, Sousa J, Matos C, Júnior Á, Coelho A, Belo Correia C, Manageiro V, Minetti C, de Sousa R, Horta Correia F. Prevention, protocols, and lab capacity: lessons from a norovirus outbreak in the Algarve. Arch Virol 2023; 168:299. [PMID: 38015274 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-023-05926-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
This brief report presents the findings of an epidemiological investigation into a large-scale outbreak of norovirus gastroenteritis that occurred in a hotel in Algarve, Portugal, in August 2022. A total of 244 cases were reported, primarily affecting Portuguese families, with the parents aged 40-50 years and the children aged 0-19 years. Reported symptoms included vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhoea. Norovirus genotype GI.3 [P3] was detected in stool samples from eight probable cases, while food samples tested negative for norovirus and common pathogenic bacteria. The investigation data collected suggest that the source of the outbreak was likely in the hotel's common areas, with subsequent person-to-person transmission in other areas. The final report emphasizes the importance of improving outbreak prevention and control measures, including the development of a foodborne outbreak investigation protocol, the establishment of an outbreak response team, and the enhancement of regional laboratory capacity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Regina Sá
- Public Health Unit, Algarve Central Health Centre Grouping, Regional Health Administration of Algarve, Faro, Portugal.
| | - Joana Roque
- Public Health Unit, Algarve Central Health Centre Grouping, Regional Health Administration of Algarve, Faro, Portugal
| | - Pedro Marques Mendes
- Public Health Unit, Algarve Central Health Centre Grouping, Regional Health Administration of Algarve, Faro, Portugal
| | - Inês Gonçalves
- Public Health Unit, Algarve Barlavento Health Centre Grouping, Regional Health Administration of Algarve, Portimão, Portugal
| | - Judite Sousa
- Personalized Health Care Unit (UCSP) Albufeira, Algarve Central Health Centre Grouping, Regional Health Administration of Algarve, Albufeira, Portugal
| | - Cátia Matos
- Personalized Health Care Unit (UCSP) Albufeira, Algarve Central Health Centre Grouping, Regional Health Administration of Algarve, Albufeira, Portugal
| | | | - Anabela Coelho
- Department of Food and Nutrition, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Cristina Belo Correia
- Department of Food and Nutrition, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Vera Manageiro
- Department of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Lisbon, Portugal
- European Public Health Microbiology Training Programme (EUPHEM), European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Corrado Minetti
- Department of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Lisbon, Portugal
- European Public Health Microbiology Training Programme (EUPHEM), European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Rita de Sousa
- Department of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Filomena Horta Correia
- Public Health Unit, Algarve Central Health Centre Grouping, Regional Health Administration of Algarve, Faro, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Jin T, Chen X, Nishio M, Zhuang L, Shiomi H, Tonosaki Y, Yokohata R, King MF, Kang M, Fujii K, Zhang N. Interventions to prevent surface transmission of an infectious virus based on real human touch behavior: a case study of the norovirus. Int J Infect Dis 2022; 122:83-92. [PMID: 35649497 PMCID: PMC9148625 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2022.05.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Infectious viruses (e.g., SARS-CoV-2, norovirus) can transmit through surfaces. Norovirus has infected millions of individuals annually. Interventions on norovirus transmission in high-risk indoor environment are important. METHODS This study focused on a restaurant in Guangzhou, China. More than 41,000 touches by both diners and staff members were collected using video cameras. A surface transmission model was developed and combined with these real human touch behaviors to analyze the effectiveness of different norovirus prevention strategies. RESULTS When the virus carrier was a diner, the virus intake fraction of diners in the same table was the highest. Increasing the touch frequency on personal private surfaces would reduce the virus exposure. The virus intake fraction was reduced by 18.4% on average if public surfaces were not touched. Optimization on surface materials could reduce the virus intake fraction by 86.6%. Additionally, disinfecting tablecloths, clothes of diners, and chairs were the three most effective surface disinfection strategies. CONCLUSION Controlling human touch behavior (e.g., reducing the self-touches on mucous membranes) is more effective than surface disinfection in controlling norovirus transmission, but surface disinfection cannot be ignored because human behavior is difficult to be controlled.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tianyi Jin
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Green Built Environment and Energy Efficient Technology, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Xuguang Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangdong province, China
| | - Masaya Nishio
- R&D-Safety Science, Kao Corporation, Japan,R&D-Strategy, Kao Corporation, Japan
| | - Linan Zhuang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Green Built Environment and Energy Efficient Technology, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Hiroyuki Shiomi
- R&D-Processing Development Research Laboratories, Kao Corporation, Japan
| | - Yosuke Tonosaki
- R&D-Processing Development Research Laboratories, Kao Corporation, Japan
| | | | | | - Min Kang
- Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangdong province, China
| | - Kenkichi Fujii
- R&D-Safety Science, Kao Corporation, Japan,R&D-Strategy, Kao Corporation, Japan
| | - Nan Zhang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Green Built Environment and Energy Efficient Technology, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, China,Corresponding author: Nan Zhang, Key Laboratory of Green Built Environment and Energy Efficient Technology, Beijing University of Technology, Room 204, Pingleyuan 100, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China, Telephone: +86 18210064566
| |
Collapse
|