By Gracie Dean, Kennesaw State University Intern
While they often get overlooked when people talk about foodborne illnesses, viruses are one of our biggest concerns when it comes to keeping food safe! Test your foodborne virus knowledge by tackling our Foodborne Viruses Crossword Puzzle!
A message from Karen Gulley, Food Program Manager
Covid-19 presented specific concerns to the food service industry due to the ways in which it is easily transmitted from person to person through the air and frequently touched surfaces. However, the two viruses known to easily spread through food due to a food handler’s poor personal hygienic practices are hepatitis A and norovirus. Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, the food service industry had been notified of increased hepatitis A cases in Georgia. Virginia is now dealing with an outbreak of hepatitis A, and we are entering what is often referred to as Norovirus Season. Our greatest defense against these two viruses is effective handwashing. Please pay close attention to when and how the hands of food workers are washed, along with other personal hygienic practices and the enforcement of appropriate vomit and fecal clean-up policies and procedures to help maintain essential controls in food facilities.
To assist regulatory staff as well as food service operators, the Association for Food and Drug Officials (AFDO) has planned an informative webinar entitled Norovirus Season Is Just Around the Corner. It will be held on Monday, November 8th from 1:30-3:00 PM EST. You are encouraged to register today if you would like to attend. Feel free to share this with anyone you believe could benefit from this information.
By Eboni Waters, EHS3
We understand these times have been chaotic and difficult as we continue to work toward eliminating the spread of COVID-19. During this time, we should continue to monitor for symptoms of COVID 19 along with monitoring for symptoms of foodborne illness. Management as well as food workers should know the employee health reporting requirements.
Let’s review!
The Big Six Illnesses Reportable by the Person-in-Charge to the Health Department:
Hepatitis A
Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC)
Norovirus
Shigella spp.
Salmonella Typhi
Nontyphoidal Salmonella.
Five Reportable Symptoms:
Lastly, ensure you report any employees diagnosed with one of the Big Six illnesses to your local health department.
To assist food service operators in managing an effective employee health policy, the Georgia Department of Public Health offers the following resources:
Employee Health RED Book (English)
Cobb & Douglas Public Health has issued public notice that a case of hepatitis A (HAV) has been diagnosed in a food handler at Vittles restaurant located in Smyrna, Georgia. An investigation found that this employee worked while infectious Wednesday, October 2, 2019. It is rare for restaurant patrons to become infected with hepatitis A virus due to an infected food handler, but anyone who consumed food or drink at Vittles on the above date should contact their healthcare provider to determine if a hepatitis A immunization is needed to prevent the disease.
Most healthcare facilities and pharmacies carry the hepatitis A vaccine, but call ahead to ensure availability. Hepatitis A vaccination is also available at Cobb & Douglas Public Health clinics Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with no out-of-pocket cost, regardless of insurance status. (Please bring insurance card if available.)
Anyone who consumed food and/or drink at the restaurant on the date that employee worked is also asked to:
Careful hand washing, including under the fingernails, with soap and water, along with vaccination of anyone at risk of infection, will prevent the spread of this disease.
Hepatitis A is a viral infection of the liver that can cause loss of appetite, nausea, tiredness, fever, stomach pain, dark-colored urine and light-colored stools. Yellowing of the skin or eyes may also appear. People can become ill up to 50 days after being exposed to the virus.
Hepatitis A is acquired when a person unknowingly ingests the virus from objects, food, or drinks contaminated by small, undetected amounts of stool from an infected person. The virus spreads when an infected person does not wash his/her hands adequately after using the toilet or engages in behaviors that increase risk of infection.
Food service owners and operators are reminded that a person may be infected with the hepatitis A virus several days before showing any signs and symptoms. In addition to ensuring that good hygienic practices are adhered to and that all workers are aware of employee health reporting requirements, operators are highly encouraged to have their workers vaccinated against hepatitis A.
If you have questions regarding the hepatitis A infection, please call our Epidemiology & Health Assessment team at 770-514-2432. For answers to questions regarding hepatitis A immunizations, please call 770-514-2349.
An updated hepatitis A fact sheet prepared by the Georgia Department of Public Health provides a good summary that may be utilized in food service establishments to assist with the education of staff members and to assist in monitoring. A Spanish hepatitis A fact sheet is also available.
For more information on hepatitis A, go to www.cdc.gov/hepatitis.
The Georgia Department of Public Health continues to encourage food service workers to get vaccinated against hepatitis A. Hepatitis A (HAV) is very contagious and about 70% of the cases that have been identified in Georgia over the past year were hospitalized. This alert is especially important to those in our health district since more than half of the identified cases were in north and northwest Georgia.
The best way to protect yourself– and others–is to get vaccinated and practice good personal hygiene. Cobb & Douglas Public Health is committed to assisting with the vaccination effort. The HAV vaccine is available at our clinics. If the food worker has insurance, the insurance company will be billed for the administration of the vaccine, unless paid for otherwise. An administration fee of $21.90 is requested from the uninsured patient receiving the state-supplied vaccine, however, no one will be refused care due to inability to pay.
If you have questions regarding the HAV disease, please call our Epidemiology & Health Assessment team at 770-514-2432. For answers to questions regarding hepatitis A immunizations, please call 770-514-2349. Please review the Hepatitis A fact sheet for more information.
There has been a recent increase in the number of Hepatitis A (HAV) cases reported in the state of Georgia. HAV is a highly contagious disease that affects the liver, and a person may have HAV several days before showing any signs and symptoms. Food service operators are asked to please ensure good hygienic practices are adhered to and that all workers are aware of employee health reporting requirements.
The Hepatitis A fact sheet prepared by the Georgia Department of Public Health provides a good summary that may be utilized in food service establishments to assist with the education of staff members and to assist in monitoring.
Cobb & Douglas Environmental Health Blog 