Foodborne Diseases
Norovirus Infection
Overview Noroviruses, including Norwalk, Snow Mountain, and Hawaii viruses, cause an illness in humans called gastroenteritis. Gastroenteritis is an inflammation of the stomach and intestines. Sometimes misnamed “stomach flu,” gastroenteritis is not related to flu (influenza), a respiratory illness caused by influenza virus. Noroviruses are very contagious. They usually are found in contaminated food or [...]
Hepatitis A
Overview Hepatitis A is an acute inflammatory disease of the liver. In 2005, nearly 4,500 cases of hepatitis A were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). An estimated 100 people die from the infection every year in this country. Cause Hepatitis A is caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). HAV is [...]
E. coli
Overview Outbreaks of foodborne disease caused by E. coli (Escherichia coli) bacteria have become a serious problem in this country. E. coli O157:H7, one type of the bacteria, has caused illness and major disease outbreaks in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates 73,000 cases of infection with E. coli [...]
Campylobacteriosis
Overview Campylobacteriosis is an infectious disease caused by eating or handling contaminated food or drinking contaminated beverages. U.S. health care providers report more than 10,000 cases to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) yearly. CDC estimates 100 people die of the disease yearly. The disease occurs more frequently in summer than winter. Cause [...]