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Huang J, Adams J, Pettigrew C, Fraser A, Jiang X. Efficacy of photoClO2 against two human norovirus surrogates and Clostridioides difficile endospores on stainless steel and nylon carpet. J Appl Microbiol 2024; 135:lxae294. [PMID: 39580360 DOI: 10.1093/jambio/lxae294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2024] [Revised: 11/12/2024] [Accepted: 11/22/2024] [Indexed: 11/25/2024]
Abstract
AIMS Determine efficacy of an aqueous photocatalytic disinfection system, photoClO2, against two human norovirus surrogates [feline calicivirus (FCV) and Tulane virus (TuV)] and Clostridioides difficile endospores on stainless steel and nylon carpet. METHODS AND RESULTS The photoClO2 system was first optimized with 1% sodium chlorite (NaClO2) and 10 ppm Eosin Y to produce 60.64 ppm ClO2/min in a 4.5 × 4.5 cm2 area. It was then tested against FCV, TuV, and C. difficile endospores on stainless steel and nylon carpet with two different backings. On stainless steel, photoClO2 achieved a > 5 log10 plaque-forming unit (PFU) reduction of FCV in 45 min, >3 log10 median tissue culture infectious dose (TCID50) reduction of TuV in 60 min, and 1.3 log10 colony-forming unit (CFU) reduction of C. difficile endospores in 120 min. Under indoor lighting conditions, photoClO2 achieved a 4.3 log10 PFU reduction of FCV and 1.4 log10 TCID50 reduction of TuV on stainless steel after 120 min. Further, photoClO2 achieved a 2.9 log10 PFU reduction of FCV and 2.5 log10 TCID50 reduction of TuV on nylon carpet with waterproof backing in 60 min, which was higher than carpet with water-permeable backing (1.3 log10 PFU and 1.1 log10 TCID50 reduction, respectively). CONCLUSION ClO2 production rate of the photoClO2 system was influenced by light distribution, while disinfection efficacy was affected by light intensity, surface characteristics, and target microorganisms. PhotoClO2 was efficacious in inactivating both human norovirus surrogates on stainless steel and nylon carpet. Efficacy against C. difficile endospores was limited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinge Huang
- Department of Food, Nutrition, and Packaging Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, United States
| | - Jacob Adams
- Noxsano, Inc., Cincinnati, OH 45212, United States
| | | | - Angela Fraser
- Department of Food, Nutrition, and Packaging Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, United States
| | - Xiuping Jiang
- Department of Food, Nutrition, and Packaging Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, United States
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Albert V, Ramamurthy T, Das S, G Dolma K, Majumdar T, Baruah PJ, Chaliha Hazarika S, Apum B, Das M. Comprehending the risk of foodborne and waterborne disease outbreaks: Current situation and control measures with Special reference to the Indian Scenario. Heliyon 2024; 10:e36344. [PMID: 39253199 PMCID: PMC11382067 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e36344] [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: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 08/10/2024] [Accepted: 08/14/2024] [Indexed: 09/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Foodborne and waterborne diseases and outbreaks are a neglected public health issue worldwide. In developing countries, diarrheal disease caused by foodborne and waterborne infections is a major cause of ill health. There is a lack of information on foodborne pathogens, their transmission routes, outbreaks, and related mortalities, due to the absence of a robust disease surveillance system and adequately equipped laboratories. Although hygiene practices are much better in Western countries, the widespread use of preserved and raw food items is a cause of concern. Consequently, the occurrence of foodborne diseases is not rare in these countries either. WHO has recently released the 'Global Strategy for Food Safety 2022-2030', addressing the emerging challenges, new technologies, and innovative approaches to strengthen food safety systems and enhance laboratory capacity for foodborne disease surveillance. Foodborne outbreaks are a huge challenge in India. Malnutrition, anemia, hookworm and enteric infections, are the predominant cryptic health conditions among children in rural and tribal areas, leading to severe consequences, including death, and posing a substantial threat to public health. Combating such events with adequate food safety and hygiene practices is achievable. Systematic collection of data can help to develop food safety policies that could reduce the burden of foodborne diseases. Objective This review aims to examine the current situation of foodborne and waterborne diseases, identification of the factors contributing to their occurrence and outbreaks, and defining the gaps in control measures, challenges, and potential solutions in improving the public health system. Methods Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis was made based on the literature review of foodborne and waterborne infections to assess the current situation and to identify knowledge gaps. Finding SWOT analysis showed the strength and gaps in the different national initiatives analogous to the global programs. Though, Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the core Government missions, independently generate substantial information, sporadic and outbreak cases of diarrhea still prevail in the country due to the absence of a systematic national surveillance system. Recently, many government initiatives have been made through Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), G20 goals, etc. However, potential threats such as risk of zoonotic disease transmission to humans, emerging infections and antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and unauthorized activities in the food sector pose a big challenge in safeguarding the public health. Conclusion Maintenance of global food safety requires a systematic analysis of present situations, identification of existing shortcomings, and targeted efforts toward prevention of infections. The ongoing G20 mission and the SDGs for 2030 represent significant strides in this direction. To have pathogen-free animals and supply of contamination-free raw foods is impractical, but, mitigating the prevalence of zoonotic diseases can be accomplished by rigorously enforcing hygiene standards throughout the food production chain. A crucial requirement at present is the implementation of integrated laboratory surveillance for foodborne and waterborne infections, as this will provide policymakers and stakeholders all the evidence based scientific information. This system will facilitate efforts in minimizing the risks associated with foodborne and waterborne infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Venencia Albert
- Indian Council of Medical Research, Ansari Nagar East, New Delhi-110029, India
| | - Thandavarayan Ramamurthy
- ICMR-National Institute for Research in Bacterial Infections (NIRBI), Kolkata, West Bengal 700010, India
| | - Samaresh Das
- Center for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC), Kolkata, 700 091, West Bengal, India
| | - Karma G Dolma
- Department of Microbiology, Sikkim Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences (SMIMS), Sikkim Manipal University, Gangtok, Sikkim 737102, India
| | - Tapan Majumdar
- Department of Microbiology, Agartala Government Medical College, Agartala, Tripura 799006, India
| | | | | | - Basumoti Apum
- Department of Microbiology, Bankin Pertin General Hospital & Research Institute, Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh 791102, India
| | - Madhuchhanda Das
- Division of Development Research, Indian Council of Medical Research, Department of Health Research (Ministry of Health & Family Welfare), P.O. Box No. 4911, Ansari Nagar East, New Delhi-110029 India
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Huang J, Fraser A, Jiang X. Efficacy of three EPA-registered antimicrobials and steam against two human norovirus surrogates on nylon carpets with two backing types. Appl Environ Microbiol 2024; 90:e0038424. [PMID: 38786363 PMCID: PMC11218654 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00384-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Carpet cleaning guidelines currently do not include the use of an antimicrobial, except after a bodily fluid event. To address this gap, we compared the efficacy of three antimicrobials-two hydrogen peroxide-based (H2O2) products (A and B) and one chlorine-based product (C)-and a steam treatment against two norovirus surrogates, specifically feline calicivirus (FCV) and Tulane virus (TuV). These tests were performed on nylon carpets with either water-permeable or waterproof backing types. The effect of repeated antimicrobial use on carpet properties was also evaluated. For a carpet with water-permeable backing, products A, B, and C achieved a 0.8, 3.1, and 0.9 log10 PFU/coupon reduction of FCV and 0.3, 2.5, and 0.4 log10 TCID50/coupon reduction of TuV, respectively, following a 30 min contact time. For carpet with waterproof backing, only product B achieved a 5.0 log10 PFU/coupon reduction of FCV and >3.0 log10 TCID50/coupon reduction of TuV, whereas products A and C achieved a 2.4 and 1.6 log10 PFU/coupon reduction of FCV and a 1.2 and 1.2 log10 TCID50/coupon reduction of TuV, respectively. Steam treatment achieved a ≥ 5.2 log10 PFU/coupon reduction of FCV and a > 3.2 log10 TCID50/coupon reduction of TuV in 15 seconds on the carpet with both backing types. The repeated use of products A and B decreased the tensile strength of the carpet backing, while use of product B resulted in cracks on carpet fibers. Overall, steam treatment for 15 seconds was efficacious on both carpet types, but only product B achieved efficacy after a 30-minute exposure on the carpet with waterproof backing.IMPORTANCECarpets are common in long-term care facilities, despite its potential as a vehicle for transmission of agents associated with healthcare-associated infections, including human norovirus (NoV). Presently, our understanding of carpet disinfection is limited; hence, there are no commercial antimicrobials against norovirus available for use on carpets. Our findings showed that steam treatment, which minimally affected the properties of carpet fibers and backing, was more efficacious against human norovirus surrogates on carpets compared to the three chemical antimicrobials tested. Additionally, the two surrogates were more sensitive to chemical antimicrobials on the carpet with waterproof backing compared to carpets with water-permeable backing. These findings can inform development of antimicrobials for use on carpets contaminated with human norovirus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinge Huang
- Department of Food, Nutrition, and Packaging Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA
| | - Angela Fraser
- Department of Food, Nutrition, and Packaging Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA
| | - Xiuping Jiang
- Department of Food, Nutrition, and Packaging Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA
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Callegari M, Danziger-Isakov LA, Rose A, Kaul D, Shaffer K, Chong PP, Florescu D, German K, Avery R, Nguyen MH, Wildfeuer B, Michaels MG, Green M, Guo K, Zhao L, Daud A, Ison MG. Presentation, management, and outcomes of norovirus in adult and pediatric solid organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients: A multicenter, retrospective study. Transpl Infect Dis 2024; 26:e14270. [PMID: 38526183 PMCID: PMC11187763 DOI: 10.1111/tid.14270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2023] [Revised: 01/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Norovirus (NoV) can cause chronic relapsing and remitting diarrhea in immunocompromised patients. Few multicenter studies have described the clinical course, outcomes, and complications of chronic NoV in transplant recipients. METHODS A multicenter retrospective study of adult and pediatric SOT and HSCT recipients diagnosed with NoV between November 1, 2017, and February 28, 2021. Data were obtained from electronic medical records (EMR) and entered into a central REDCap database. Descriptive statistics were calculated. RESULTS A total of 280 NoV+ patients were identified across eight sites. The majority were adults (74.1%) and SOT recipients (91.4%). Initial diagnosis of NoV occurred a median of 36 months post-Tx (IQR [15.0, 90.0]). Most NoV cases had >3 diarrheal episodes daily (66.0%), nausea and vomiting (60.1%). Duration of diarrhea varied greatly (median = 10 days, mean = 85.9 days, range (1, 2100)). 71.3% were hospitalized. Adjustment of immunosuppression, including reduction and discontinuation of mToR inhibitor, CNI, and/or MMF, was the most common management intervention for NoV. Other therapies resulted only in temporary improvement. Four patients died within 30 days and three others died by 180 days postdiagnosis. Clinically significant renal dysfunction was observed in 12.5% by 30 days and 21.4% by 180 days post-NoV diagnosis. CONCLUSION In HSCT and SOT patients, NoV frequently resulted in severe symptoms, prolonged diarrhea (30% persistent with diarrhea for >30 days), and clinically significant renal dysfunction (up to 21% of patients). Utilized therapies did not reliably result in the resolution of infection demonstrating the need for more effective treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Callegari
- Divisions of Organ Transplantation, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
| | - Lara A. Danziger-Isakov
- Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati OH
| | - Anne Rose
- Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati OH
| | - Daniel Kaul
- Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Kelly Shaffer
- Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Pearlie P. Chong
- Division of Infectious Diseases & Geographic Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Diana Florescu
- Infectious Diseases Division, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE
| | - Kaci German
- Infectious Diseases Division, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE
| | - Robin Avery
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
| | - M. Hong Nguyen
- Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Brett Wildfeuer
- Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Marian G. Michaels
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Michael Green
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Kexin Guo
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Lihui Zhao
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
| | - Amna Daud
- Divisions of Organ Transplantation, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
| | - Michael G. Ison
- Respiratory Diseases Branch, Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD
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Qian W, Cooke A, Stanley KG, Osgood ND. Comparing Contact Tracing Through Bluetooth and GPS Surveillance Data: Simulation-Driven Approach. J Med Internet Res 2024; 26:e38170. [PMID: 38422493 PMCID: PMC11025599 DOI: 10.2196/38170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Accurate and responsive epidemiological simulations of epidemic outbreaks inform decision-making to mitigate the impact of pandemics. These simulations must be grounded in quantities derived from measurements, among which the parameters associated with contacts between individuals are notoriously difficult to estimate. Digital contact tracing data, such as those provided by Bluetooth beaconing or GPS colocating, can provide more precise measures of contact than traditional methods based on direct observation or self-reporting. Both measurement modalities have shortcomings and are prone to false positives or negatives, as unmeasured environmental influences bias the data. OBJECTIVE We aim to compare GPS colocated versus Bluetooth beacon-derived proximity contact data for their impacts on transmission models' results under community and types of diseases. METHODS We examined the contact patterns derived from 3 data sets collected in 2016, with participants comprising students and staff from the University of Saskatchewan in Canada. Each of these 3 data sets used both Bluetooth beaconing and GPS localization on smartphones running the Ethica Data (Avicenna Research) app to collect sensor data about every 5 minutes over a month. We compared the structure of contact networks inferred from proximity contact data collected with the modalities of GPS colocating and Bluetooth beaconing. We assessed the impact of sensing modalities on the simulation results of transmission models informed by proximate contacts derived from sensing data. Specifically, we compared the incidence number, attack rate, and individual infection risks across simulation results of agent-based susceptible-exposed-infectious-removed transmission models of 4 different contagious diseases. We have demonstrated their differences with violin plots, 2-tailed t tests, and Kullback-Leibler divergence. RESULTS Both network structure analyses show visually salient differences in proximity contact data collected between GPS colocating and Bluetooth beaconing, regardless of the underlying population. Significant differences were found for the estimated attack rate based on distance threshold, measurement modality, and simulated disease. This finding demonstrates that the sensor modality used to trace contact can have a significant impact on the expected propagation of a disease through a population. The violin plots of attack rate and Kullback-Leibler divergence of individual infection risks demonstrated discernible differences for different sensing modalities, regardless of the underlying population and diseases. The results of the t tests on attack rate between different sensing modalities were mostly significant (P<.001). CONCLUSIONS We show that the contact networks generated from these 2 measurement modalities are different and generate significantly different attack rates across multiple data sets and pathogens. While both modalities offer higher-resolution portraits of contact behavior than is possible with most traditional contact measures, the differential impact of measurement modality on the simulation outcome cannot be ignored and must be addressed in studies only using a single measure of contact in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weicheng Qian
- Department of Computer Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Aranock Cooke
- Department of Computer Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Kevin Gordon Stanley
- Department of Computer Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Nathaniel David Osgood
- Department of Computer Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
- Department of Community Health & Epidemiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
- Bioengineering Division, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
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Fu J, Shen L, Li W, Yan H, Liu B, Wang Y, Tian Y, Jia L, Wang Q, Zhang D, Gao Z. Genotypic diversity and recombination of norovirus GI.6[P11] associated acute gastroenteritis outbreaks in Beijing, China, from 2016 to 2019. INFECTION, GENETICS AND EVOLUTION : JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY AND EVOLUTIONARY GENETICS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2023; 114:105491. [PMID: 37597645 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2023.105491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/21/2023]
Abstract
Norovirus (NoV) is the leading pathogen responsible for global acute gastroenteritis (AGE) outbreaks and sporadic cases. NoV evolves through gene mutation and recombination, leading to the emergence of new strains capable of causing global epidemics. This study aimed to learn the epidemiological characteristics of 39 GI.6[P11] NoV outbreaks in Beijing, China, from 2016 to 2019 and to analyze the genetic diversity and phylogenetic process of GI.6[P11] strains. The Bayesian phylogenetic analysis of partial VP1 and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) genes showed that GI.6[P11] strains were clustered into four subclades. Eleven whole genome sequences were obtained through the amplicon sequencing with 16 pairs of newly designed primers. The phylogenetic trees based on the whole genome and ORF1, 2, and 3 showed that the clustering of the 11 strains was consistent with that of partial VP1 and RdRp genes. The Bayesian inference revealed that the most recent ancestor (TMRCA) for the four subclades of the phylogenetic tree based on the whole genome sequences was 2012.42, 2014.81, 2011.74, and 2015.53, respectively. The recombination sites of GI.6[P11] strains in Beijing were located near the ORF1/2 junction. The histo-blood group antigens (HBGA) binding sites of GI.6[P11] strains in Beijing were conserved and there were some unique amino acid mutations in non-structural proteins in the ORF1 region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiamei Fu
- China Medical University, School of Public Health, Shenyang, China; Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing, China
| | - Lingyu Shen
- Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing, China
| | - Weihong Li
- Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing, China
| | - Hanqiu Yan
- Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing, China
| | - Baiwei Liu
- Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Wang
- Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing, China
| | - Yi Tian
- Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing, China
| | - Lei Jia
- Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing, China
| | - Quanyi Wang
- Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing, China
| | - Daitao Zhang
- Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing, China.
| | - Zhiyong Gao
- China Medical University, School of Public Health, Shenyang, China; Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing, China.
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Wang Y, Gao Z, Lu Q, Liu B, Jia L, Shen L, Tian Y, Li W, Yan H, Zhang D, Yang P, Fang L, Wang Q, Cui F. Transmissibility quantification of norovirus outbreaks in 2016-2021 in Beijing, China. J Med Virol 2023; 95:e29153. [PMID: 37804388 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.29153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/09/2023]
Abstract
The transmissibility is a crucial feature for norovirus, yet its quantitative estimation has been limited. Our objective was to estimate the basic reproduction number (R0 ) of norovirus and investigate its variation characteristics. Norovirus outbreaks reported from September 2016 to August 2021 in Beijing were analyzed. The susceptible-infected-removed compartment model was established to estimate R0 . Linear regression models and logistic regression models were used to explore the factors affecting the transmissibility of norovirus. The overall median R0 of norovirus was estimated as 2.1 (interquartile range [IQR] 1.8-2.5), with 650 norovirus outbreaks. The transmissibility of norovirus varied by year, outbreak setting and genotype. The R0 of norovirus during September 2019 to August 2020 (median 2.1, IQR 1.8-2.4) and September 2020 to August 2021 (median 2.0, IQR 1.7-2.3) was lower than that of September 2016 to August 2017 (median 2.3, IQR 1.8-2.7) (β = 0.94, p = 0.05; β = 0.93, p = 0.008). The R0 of norovirus for all other settings was lower than that for kindergarten (median 2.4, IQR 2.0-2.9) (primary school: median 2.0, IQR 1.7-2.4, β = 0.94, p = 0.001; secondary school: median 1.7, IQR 1.5-2.0, β = 0.87, p < 0.001; college: median 1.7, IQR 1.5-1.8, β = 0.89, p = 0.03; other closed settings: median 1.8, IQR 1.5-2.0, β = 0.90, p = 0.004). GⅡ.2[P16] outbreaks had a median R0 of 2.2 (IQR 1.8-2.7), which was higher than that for GⅡ.6[P7] outbreaks (median 1.8, IQR: 1.8-2.0, odds ratio = 0.19, p = 0.03; GⅡ.2[P16] as reference) and mixed-genotype outbreaks (median 1.7, IQR: 1.5-1.8, β = 0.92, p = 0.02; mixed-genotype as reference). In kindergartens and primary schools, norovirus shows increased transmissibility, emphasizing the vulnerable population and high-risk settings. Furthermore, the transmissibility of norovirus may change over time and with virus evolution, necessitating additional research to uncover the underlying mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Wang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Institute for Infectious Disease and Endemic Disease Control, Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing, China
| | - Zhiyong Gao
- Institute for Infectious Disease and Endemic Disease Control, Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing, China
| | - Qingbin Lu
- Department of Laboratory Science and Technology & Vaccine Research Center, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Baiwei Liu
- Institute for Infectious Disease and Endemic Disease Control, Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing, China
| | - Lei Jia
- Institute for Infectious Disease and Endemic Disease Control, Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing, China
| | - Lingyu Shen
- Institute for Infectious Disease and Endemic Disease Control, Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing, China
| | - Yi Tian
- Institute for Infectious Disease and Endemic Disease Control, Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing, China
| | - Weihong Li
- Institute for Infectious Disease and Endemic Disease Control, Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing, China
| | - Hanqiu Yan
- Institute for Infectious Disease and Endemic Disease Control, Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing, China
| | - Daitao Zhang
- Institute for Infectious Disease and Endemic Disease Control, Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing, China
| | - Peng Yang
- Institute for Infectious Disease and Endemic Disease Control, Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing, China
| | - Liqun Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Quanyi Wang
- Institute for Infectious Disease and Endemic Disease Control, Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing, China
| | - Fuqiang Cui
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Department of Laboratory Science and Technology & Vaccine Research Center, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Epidemiology of Major Diseases (Peking University), Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
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8
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Chen Y, Liu B, Wang Y, Zhang Y, Yan H, Li W, Shen L, Tian Y, Jia L, Zhang D, Yang P, Gao Z, Wang Q. Spatio-temporal distribution and influencing factors of norovirus outbreaks in Beijing, China from 2016 to 2020. BMC Infect Dis 2023; 23:270. [PMID: 37131193 PMCID: PMC10152695 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-023-08243-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Noroviruses are a leading cause of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) worldwide. The geographical characteristics of norovirus outbreaks in Beijing and their influencing factors remain unknown. This study aimed to explore the spatial distributions, geographical characteristics, and influencing factors of norovirus outbreaks in Beijing, China. METHODS Epidemiological data and specimens were collected through the AGE outbreak surveillance system in all 16 districts of Beijing. Data on spatial distribution, geographical characteristics, and influencing factors of norovirus outbreaks were analyzed using descriptive statistics methods. We measured spatial, geographical clustering of high- or low-value deviance from random distribution using Z-scores and P-values as statistical significance measures with Global Moran's I statistics and Getis-Ord Gi in ArcGIS. Linear regression and correlation methods were used to explore influencing factors. RESULTS Between September 2016 and August 2020, 1,193 norovirus outbreaks were laboratory-confirmed. The number of outbreaks varied seasonally, typically peaking in spring (March to May) or winter (October to December). Outbreaks primarily occurred around central districts at the town level, and spatial autocorrelation was evident in both the entire study period and in individual years. Hotspots of norovirus outbreaks in Beijing were primarily found in contiguous areas between three central districts (Chaoyang, Haidian, Fengtai) and four suburban districts (Changping, Daxing, Fangshan, Tongzhou). The average population numbers, mean number of all schools, and mean number of kindergartens and primary schools for towns in central districts and hotspot areas were higher than those in suburban districts and non-hotspot areas respectively. Additionally, population numbers and densities of kindergartens and primary schools were influencing factors at the town level. CONCLUSIONS Hotspots of norovirus outbreaks in Beijing were in contiguous areas between central and suburban districts with high populations, and high kindergarten and primary school densities were the likely driving forces. Outbreak surveillance needs to focus on contiguous areas between central and suburban districts with increased monitoring, medical resources, and health education.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanwei Chen
- Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, No. 16 Hepingli Middle Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100013, China
| | - Baiwei Liu
- Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, No. 16 Hepingli Middle Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100013, China
| | - Yu Wang
- Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, No. 16 Hepingli Middle Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100013, China
| | - Yewu Zhang
- Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Hanqiu Yan
- Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, No. 16 Hepingli Middle Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100013, China
| | - Weihong Li
- Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, No. 16 Hepingli Middle Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100013, China
| | - Lingyu Shen
- Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, No. 16 Hepingli Middle Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100013, China
| | - Yi Tian
- Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, No. 16 Hepingli Middle Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100013, China
| | - Lei Jia
- Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, No. 16 Hepingli Middle Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100013, China
| | - Daitao Zhang
- Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, No. 16 Hepingli Middle Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100013, China
| | - Peng Yang
- Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, No. 16 Hepingli Middle Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100013, China
| | - Zhiyong Gao
- Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, No. 16 Hepingli Middle Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100013, China.
| | - Quanyi Wang
- Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, No. 16 Hepingli Middle Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100013, China.
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9
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Huang J, Park GW, Jones RM, Fraser AM, Vinjé J, Jiang X. Efficacy of EPA-registered disinfectants against two human norovirus surrogates and Clostridioides difficile endospores. J Appl Microbiol 2022; 132:4289-4299. [PMID: 35279925 PMCID: PMC9119914 DOI: 10.1111/jam.15524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Revised: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
AIMS To determine the efficacy of a panel of nine EPA-registered disinfectants against two human norovirus (HuNoV) surrogates (feline calicivirus [FCV] and Tulane virus [TuV]) and Clostridioides difficile endospores. METHODS AND RESULTS Nine EPA-registered products, five of which contained H2 O2 as active ingredient, were tested against infectious FCV, TuV and C. difficile endospores using two ASTM methods, a suspension and carrier test. Efficacy claims against FCV were confirmed for 8 of 9 products. The most efficacious product containing H2 O2 as ingredient achieved a >5.1 log reduction of FCV and >3.1 log reduction of TuV after 5 min, and >6.0 log reduction of C. difficile endospores after 10 min. Of the five products containing H2 O2 , no strong correlation (R2 = 0.25, p = 0.03) was observed between disinfection efficacy and H2 O2 concentration. Addition of 0.025% ferrous sulphate to 1% H2 O2 solution improved efficacy against FCV, TuV and C. difficile. CONCLUSION Disinfectants containing H2 O2 are the most efficacious disinfection products against FCV, TuV and C. difficile endospores. Product formulation, rather than the concentration of H2 O2 in a product, impacts the efficacy of a disinfection product. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF STUDY H2 O2 -based disinfectants are efficacious against surrogate viruses for HuNoV and C. difficile endospores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinge Huang
- Department of Food, Nutrition, and Packaging Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA
| | - Geun Woo Park
- Division of Viral Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Rachael M. Jones
- Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Angela M. Fraser
- Department of Food, Nutrition, and Packaging Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA
| | - Jan Vinjé
- Division of Viral Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Xiuping Jiang
- Department of Food, Nutrition, and Packaging Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA
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10
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Outbreaks of Gastroenteritis Due to Norovirus in Schools and Summer Camps in Catalonia, 2017-2019. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0011922. [PMID: 35543555 PMCID: PMC9241749 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00119-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
We studied outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis due to norovirus in schools and summer camps during 2017–2019 in Catalonia (Spain). The overall attack rate was 21.27% in schools and 33.42% in summer camps (RR 0.64 [95% CI 0.58–0.70]) and 52.63% of outbreaks occurred in cold months and 47.37% in warm months. The mean delay in reporting was 5.61 days (SD 5.58 days) and the mean duration was 6.11 days (SD 6.08 days), with a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.84 (P < 0.001) between these variables. In outbreaks with person-to-person transmission, the aOR was higher the longer the delay in reporting: 3.07 (95% CI 1.21–7.81) when the delay was 5–8 days and 3.81 when it was >9 days (95% CI 1.42–10.23). The cold months posed a higher risk than the warm months. In common source outbreaks the risk was higher in children in secondary-higher education and in summer camps. IMPORTANCE Norovirus is the main cause of viral acute gastroenteritis outbreaks worldwide. The low infectious dose and the lack of long-term immunity in infected persons means that norovirus often causes outbreaks in institutions and closed and semiclosed centers. Norovirus gastroenteritis are usually mild, with no complications, but occasionally can result in hospital admission. Understanding the risk factors involved in a norovirus outbreak can reduce the spread, severity, and duration of the outbreak and, when a vaccine becomes available, this understanding would help us identify the population groups need to get vaccinated. Here, we show the outbreaks due to norovirus in schools and summer camps, the correlation between the delay in reporting and duration of outbreaks and the relationship of the attack rate and the size of the groups.
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11
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Zhang Y, Simpson RB, Sallade LE, Sanchez E, Monahan KM, Naumova EN. Evaluating Completeness of Foodborne Outbreak Reporting in the United States, 1998-2019. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19052898. [PMID: 35270590 PMCID: PMC8910621 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19052898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Revised: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Public health agencies routinely collect time-referenced records to describe and compare foodborne outbreak characteristics. Few studies provide comprehensive metadata to inform researchers of data limitations prior to conducting statistical modeling. We described the completeness of 103 variables for 22,792 outbreaks publicly reported by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (US CDC’s) electronic Foodborne Outbreak Reporting System (eFORS) and National Outbreak Reporting System (NORS). We compared monthly trends of completeness during eFORS (1998−2008) and NORS (2009−2019) reporting periods using segmented time series analyses adjusted for seasonality. We quantified the overall, annual, and monthly completeness as the percentage of outbreaks with blank records per our study period, calendar year, and study month, respectively. We found that outbreaks of unknown genus (n = 7401), Norovirus (n = 6414), Salmonella (n = 2872), Clostridium (n = 944), and multiple genera (n = 779) accounted for 80.77% of all outbreaks. However, crude completeness ranged from 46.06% to 60.19% across the 103 variables assessed. Variables with the lowest crude completeness (ranging 3.32−6.98%) included pathogen, specimen etiological testing, and secondary transmission traceback information. Variables with low (<35%) average monthly completeness during eFORS increased by 0.33−0.40%/month after transitioning to NORS, most likely due to the expansion of surveillance capacity and coverage within the new reporting system. Examining completeness metrics in outbreak surveillance systems provides essential information on the availability of data for public reuse. These metadata offer important insights for public health statisticians and modelers to precisely monitor and track the geographic spread, event duration, and illness intensity of foodborne outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yutong Zhang
- Division of Nutrition Epidemiology and Data Science, Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, 150 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA 02111, USA; (R.B.S.); (L.E.S.); (E.S.)
- Correspondence: (Y.Z.); (E.N.N.); Tel.: +1-515-817-3850 (Y.Z.); +1-617-636-2927 (E.N.N.)
| | - Ryan B. Simpson
- Division of Nutrition Epidemiology and Data Science, Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, 150 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA 02111, USA; (R.B.S.); (L.E.S.); (E.S.)
| | - Lauren E. Sallade
- Division of Nutrition Epidemiology and Data Science, Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, 150 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA 02111, USA; (R.B.S.); (L.E.S.); (E.S.)
| | - Emily Sanchez
- Division of Nutrition Epidemiology and Data Science, Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, 150 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA 02111, USA; (R.B.S.); (L.E.S.); (E.S.)
| | - Kyle M. Monahan
- Gordon Institute, Tufts University School of Engineering, 200 Boston Avenue, Medford, MA 02155, USA;
| | - Elena N. Naumova
- Division of Nutrition Epidemiology and Data Science, Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, 150 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA 02111, USA; (R.B.S.); (L.E.S.); (E.S.)
- Correspondence: (Y.Z.); (E.N.N.); Tel.: +1-515-817-3850 (Y.Z.); +1-617-636-2927 (E.N.N.)
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12
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Polkowska A, Räsänen S, Nuorti P, Maunula L, Jalava K. Assessment of Food and Waterborne Viral Outbreaks by Using Field Epidemiologic, Modern Laboratory and Statistical Methods-Lessons Learnt from Seven Major Norovirus Outbreaks in Finland. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10121624. [PMID: 34959579 PMCID: PMC8707936 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10121624] [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: 11/16/2021] [Revised: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Seven major food- and waterborne norovirus outbreaks in Western Finland during 2014–2018 were re-analysed. The aim was to assess the effectiveness of outbreak investigation tools and evaluate the Kaplan criteria. We summarised epidemiological and microbiological findings from seven outbreaks. To evaluate the Kaplan criteria, a one-stage meta-analysis of data from seven cohort studies was performed. The case was defined as a person attending an implicated function with diarrhoea, vomiting or two other symptoms. Altogether, 22% (386/1794) of persons met the case definition. Overall adjusted, 73% of norovirus patients were vomiting, the mean incubation period was 44 h (4 h to 4 days) and the median duration of illness was 46 h. As vomiting was a more common symptom in children (96%, 143/149) and diarrhoea among the elderly (92%, 24/26), symptom and age presentation should drive hypothesis formulation. The Kaplan criteria were useful in initial outbreak assessments prior to faecal results. Rapid food control inspections enabled evidence-based, public-health-driven risk assessments. This led to probability-based vehicle identification and aided in resolving the outbreak event mechanism rather than implementing potentially ineffective, large-scale public health actions such as the withdrawal of extensive food lots. Asymptomatic food handlers should be ideally withdrawn from high-risk work for five days instead of the current two days. Food and environmental samples often remain negative with norovirus, highlighting the importance of research collaborations. Electronic questionnaire and open-source novel statistical programmes provided time and resource savings. The public health approach proved useful within the environmental health area with shoe leather field epidemiology, combined with statistical analysis and mathematical reasoning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Polkowska
- Health Sciences Unit, Faculty of Social Sciences, Tampere University, 33100 Tampere, Finland; (A.P.); (P.N.)
| | - Sirpa Räsänen
- Pirkanmaa Hospital District, 33520 Tampere, Finland;
| | - Pekka Nuorti
- Health Sciences Unit, Faculty of Social Sciences, Tampere University, 33100 Tampere, Finland; (A.P.); (P.N.)
| | - Leena Maunula
- Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, 00100 Helsinki, Finland;
| | - Katri Jalava
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Helsinki, 00100 Helsinki, Finland
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +44-73-4224-7186
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13
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Parrón I, Barrabeig I, Alseda M, Rius C, Cornejo-Sánchez T, Jané M, Pérez C, Guix S, Domínguez À. Norovirus outbreaks in long-term care facilities in Catalonia from 2017 to 2018. Sci Rep 2021; 11:23218. [PMID: 34853333 PMCID: PMC8636624 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-02348-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Norovirus is the leading cause of outbreaks of acute viral gastroenteritis. We carried out this study to investigate outbreaks in long-term care facilities reported in 2017 and 2018 in Catalonia (Spain). The characteristics of the centers, exposed persons and the genogroups responsible were analyzed. Viral loads were estimated. The attack rate (AR) of the outbreaks studied, and the rate ratio (RR) and the odds ratio (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals as measures of association were calculated. The mean cycle thresholds were compared using the t-test for independent means. We included 30 outbreaks (4631 exposed people). The global AR was 25.93%. The RR of residents vs. staff was 2.28 (95% CI 2.0–2.6). The RR between AR in residents with total or severe dependence vs. residents with moderate, low or no-dependence was 1.23 (95% CI 1.05–1.45). The AR were higher in smaller centers than in larger ones (38.47% vs. 19.25% and RR 2; 95% CI 1.82–2.2). GII was responsible for 70% of outbreaks. No association was found between the genogroup and presenting symptoms (OR 0.96; 95% CI 0.41–2.26). Viral loads were higher in symptomatic than in asymptomatic patients (p = 0.001).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ignacio Parrón
- Sub-Direcció Regional a Barcelona del Departament de Salut, Barcelona, Spain. .,Departament de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Irene Barrabeig
- Sub-Direcció Regional a Barcelona del Departament de Salut, Barcelona, Spain.,CIBER Epidemiologia y Salud Pública, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Miquel Alseda
- Sub-Direcció Regional a Lleida del Departament de Salut, Lleida, Spain
| | - Cristina Rius
- CIBER Epidemiologia y Salud Pública, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.,Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Mireia Jané
- Departament de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,CIBER Epidemiologia y Salud Pública, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.,Sub-Direcció General de Vigilància i Resposta a Emergències de Salut Pública, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cristina Pérez
- Sub-Direcció Regional a Barcelona del Departament de Salut, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Susana Guix
- Departament de Genètica Microbiologia i Estadística, Grup de Virus Entèrics, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Institut de Recerca en Nutrició i Seguretat Alimentària (INSA-UB), Universitat de Barcelona, Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Spain
| | - Àngela Domínguez
- Departament de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,CIBER Epidemiologia y Salud Pública, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
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14
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Smoll NR, Khan A, Walker J, McMahon J, Kirk M, Khandaker G. A norovirus gastroenteritis outbreak in an Australian child-care center: A household-level analysis. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0259145. [PMID: 34727123 PMCID: PMC8562815 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0259145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
There is a large burden of norovirus disease in child-care centers in Australia and around the world. Despite the ubiquity of norovirus outbreaks in child-care centers, little is known about the extent of this burden within the child-care center and the surrounding household clusters. Therefore, we performed an in-depth analysis of a gastroenteritis outbreak to examine the patterns of transmissions, household attack rates and the basic reproduction number (R0) for Norovirus in a child-care facility. We used data from parental interviews of suspected cases sent home with gastroenteritis at a child-care center between 24th of August and 18th of September 2020. A total of 52 persons in 19 household clusters were symptomatic in this outbreak investigation. Of all transmissions, 23 (46.9%) occurred in the child-care center, the rest occurring in households. We found a household attack rate of 36.5% (95% CI 27.3, 47.1%). Serial intervals were estimated as mean 2.5 ± SD1.45 days. The R0, using time-dependent methods during the growth phase of the outbreak (days 2 to 8) was 2.4 (95% CI 1.50, 3.50). The count of affected persons of a child-care center norovirus outbreak is approximately double the count of the total symptomatic staff and attending children. In the study setting, each symptomatic child-care attendee likely infected one other child-care attendee or staff and just over one household contact on average.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Arifuzzman Khan
- Central Queensland Public Health Unit, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia
| | - Jacina Walker
- Central Queensland Public Health Unit, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia
- Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Jamie McMahon
- Public Health Virology Laboratory, Forensic and Scientific Services, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, South Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Michael Kirk
- Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia
| | - Gulam Khandaker
- Central Queensland Public Health Unit, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia
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