LAUSR

The human noroviruses are major causes of nonbacterial gastroenteritis, and are transmitted by both food and water, as well as via a person-to-person route. Asymptomatic norovirus infection of food handlers may play a role in transmission. The outbreak of noroviruses infections has been recognized in PyeongChang Winter Olympics, starting with security staffs from February 3, 2018. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in Korea conducted a noroviruses surveillance from asymptomatic food handlers of food catering facilities related to the Olympics to prevent the spread of the noroviruses. A total of 707 rectal swab samples from food handlers were collected and examined for norovirus using real-time RT-PCR and conventional RT-PCR. Five of 707 detected noroviruses. Genotypes of the norovirus-positive samples were determined with sequencing analysis. Identified genotypes of norovirus in asymptomatic food handlers included GI.3, GII.4, and GII.17. The GII.17 was prevalent among the genotypes, accounting for 3 of 5 detections. Food handlers with noroviruses detected in rectal swab are excluded from cooking and all foods handled by infected food handlers were discarded. Surveillance of norovirus infection for food handlers contributed to preventing noroviruses spread.