1998 Outbreak of Norovirus at a Campus Deli, Texas

An outbreak of gastroenteritis occurred among students at a Texas university. Eating at the university's main cafeteria deli bar on March 9 or 10 was statistically associated with illness. Norovirus was isolated from nine ill students and from a sample of deli ham. The infant of a food handler had diarrhea just prior to when the food handler prepared deli sandwiches on March 9. Norovirus was isolated from the stool of the ill infant. The genetic sequences of the Norovirus isolates from the students, the infant, and the ham were identical.

Overview

Outbreak began:March 1998
Affected country:US
States/territories:TX
Pathogen:Norovirus
Vehicle(s):Sandwiches, Ham, Food Worker
Location(s):University cafeteria
Molecular test results:Norovirus Genogroup II

Health impact

Total ill:125
Number hospitalized:60

Sources & documents

Report / reference links