Food-borne norovirus-outbreak at a military base, Germany, 2009
BMC Infectious Diseases·
- DOI
- 10.1186/1471-2334-10-30
- PMID
- 20163705
- PMCID
- PMC2831023
- OpenAlex
- W2146330612
- Study type
- Cohort study
- Publisher
- Springer Science and Business Media LLC
- Article type
- journal-article
- Integrity
- current
Why this research matters now
The investigation demonstrated food-borne norovirus transmission through contaminated salad at a communal dining facility. Control measures included cohort isolation, exclusion of norovirus-positive food handlers, and kitchen disinfection, emphasizing the importance of strict hygiene and proper environmental disinfection.
Structured evidence summary
Research question
The study investigated a norovirus outbreak at a German military base in January 2009 to describe its extent, verify the pathogen, and identify transmission modes and infection sources.
Study design
The investigation combined descriptive analysis of all cases and a retrospective cohort study within the headquarters company, using self-administered questionnaires and laboratory testing of stool specimens, food items, and environmental swabs.
Population and setting
The outbreak affected members of a military base in Germany between December 2008 and February 2009. The cohort study enrolled 178 of 274 members of the headquarters company, with cases predominantly male and a median age of 22 years.
Main findings
Of 101 persons who fell ill, 49 had onset during January 7-9, 2009. Salad consumption on January 6 and 7 was independently associated with increased disease risk. Norovirus was detected in specimens from ill persons, canteen employees, and environmental swabs, with identical subtype II.4 2006b sequences in environmental and patient samples.
Public-health relevance
The investigation demonstrated food-borne norovirus transmission through contaminated salad at a communal dining facility. Control measures included cohort isolation, exclusion of norovirus-positive food handlers, and kitchen disinfection, emphasizing the importance of strict hygiene and proper environmental disinfection.
Important limitations
This summary relies on the supplied single-article abstract and metadata. Full interpretation of study limitations, including response rates, laboratory detection limits, and potential confounders, requires review of the complete manuscript.
GIDS interpretation
This 2010 retrospective cohort study provides evidence that food-borne transmission can be analytically confirmed in norovirus outbreaks. The article would be discoverable through searches for food-borne outbreaks, military settings, or norovirus transmission investigations in Germany.
Related GIDS surveillance
Literature context does not validate, explain, or change a surveillance signal. Exact and contextual relationships are shown separately.
Evidence relationships
This article has 9 auditable classifier relationships to diseases, places, topics, and study design.