About food hygiene month, norovirus food poisoning warning information

The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has designated the month of August as “Food Sanitation Month” in order to ensure thorough food hygiene management and enhance risk communication efforts by local governments and others.

Due to the high temperature and humidity in summer, food poisoning occurs frequently every year due to bacteria such as Campylobacter Jejuni / Collri, enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli, and grape globuly occur.
Let's prevent the occurrence of food poisoning by observing the three principles of food poisoning prevention: "Do not put on" (hand washing), "Do not increase" (eat immediately, low temperature storage), and "Kick" (heating firmly).

Food poisoning caused by norovirus occurs frequently every year from autumn to winter.
The outbreak of food poisoning due to norovirus is closely related to the frequent occurrence of `` infectious gastroenteritis '', and if the number of patients with `` infectious gastroenteritis '' increases rapidly, the incidence of norovirus food poisoning tends to increase several weeks later. I am.
In Kanagawa Prefecture, on the day when the number of patients with "infectious gastroenteritis" in the infectious disease outbreak trend survey increased for three consecutive weeks compared to the previous week's value, "Norovirus Food Poisoning Warning Information" was issued, and consumers and foods. We alert businesses.
(The office work related to norovirus food poisoning alert information is carried out by Health Sanitation Division, Kanagawa Health Department of Health and Medical Care Bureau.)
　

What is norovirus?
Norovirus is a virus that causes acute gastroenteritis mainly in winter.
When infected, it develops symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, and fever, usually recovers in a few days, but can be serious in infants and the elderly with weak resistance.
It is also very infectious and causes disease with a very small amount of virus.
The stool and vomit of infected people contain a large amount of norovirus, and secondary contamination (contamination of food through dirty hands, etc.) can also cause food poisoning.
　

On November 6, 2023, Kanagawa Prefecture issued norovirus food poisoning warning information.
　　
　　
[End period of norovirus food poisoning warning information]
　From November 6, 2023 to March 31, 2024

　
Be aware of the following and make sure to take preventive measures at home.
1 After returning home from home, wash your hands thoroughly with soap after the toilet, before cooking, and before eating.
2. Wash cooking utensils such as cutting boards thoroughly and disinfect them with boiling water or kitchen bleach.
3 When treating vomit, excrement, etc., do not touch it directly. If you touch it, wash your hands well with soap.
4 Bivalves such as oysters may be a source of infection, so be careful when handling bivalves and cook to the center (85 ° C to 90 ° C for 90 seconds or more) before eating.
　
[Reference: Norovirus food poisoning outbreak in Yokohama City in 2022]
　Number of cases　：　1 case
　Number of patients:　30 people