BACKGROUND: In February 2009, a group of Guatemalan school children developed acute gastroenteritis (AGE) after participating in a school excursion. OBJECTIVES: We conducted a retrospective cohort investigation to characterize the outbreak and guide control measures. STUDY DESIGN: A case was defined as an illness with onset of diarrhea or vomiting during February 25-March 5, 2009. Participants were interviewed using a standardized questionnaire, and stool specimens were collected. We inspected the excursion site and tested water samples for total coliforms and Escherichia coli. RESULTS: We identified 119 excursion participants, of which 92 (77%) had been ill. Fifty-six (62%) patients sought care for their illness, and three (3%) were hospitalized. Eighteen (90%) of the 20 specimens from ill children tested positive for norovirus. Among these, 16 (89%) were of the genogroup I (GI.7) and two (11%) were genogroup II (GII.12 and GII.17). One (8%) of the 12 food handlers had norovirus (GI.7). Drinking water samples had 146 most probable numbers (MPN)/100ml of total coliforms and five MPN/100ml of E. coli. CONCLUSION: We describe the first laboratory-confirmed norovirus outbreak in Guatemala. The high illness attack rate, detection of multiple norovirus strains in sick persons, and presence of fecal contamination of drinking water indicate likely waterborne transmission.
BACKGROUND: In February 2009, a group of Guatemalan school children developed acute gastroenteritis (AGE) after participating in a school excursion. OBJECTIVES: We conducted a retrospective cohort investigation to characterize the outbreak and guide control measures. STUDY DESIGN: A case was defined as an illness with onset of diarrhea or vomiting during February 25-March 5, 2009. Participants were interviewed using a standardized questionnaire, and stool specimens were collected. We inspected the excursion site and tested water samples for total coliforms and Escherichia coli. RESULTS: We identified 119 excursion participants, of which 92 (77%) had been ill. Fifty-six (62%) patients sought care for their illness, and three (3%) were hospitalized. Eighteen (90%) of the 20 specimens from ill children tested positive for norovirus. Among these, 16 (89%) were of the genogroup I (GI.7) and two (11%) were genogroup II (GII.12 and GII.17). One (8%) of the 12 food handlers had norovirus (GI.7). Drinking water samples had 146 most probable numbers (MPN)/100ml of total coliforms and five MPN/100ml of E. coli. CONCLUSION: We describe the first laboratory-confirmed norovirus outbreak in Guatemala. The high illness attack rate, detection of multiple norovirus strains in sick persons, and presence of fecal contamination of drinking water indicate likely waterborne transmission.
Authors: M de Graaf; J van Beek; H Vennema; A T Podkolzin; J Hewitt; F Bucardo; K Templeton; J Mans; J Nordgren; G Reuter; M Lynch; L D Rasmussen; N Iritani; M C Chan; V Martella; K Ambert-Balay; J Vinjé; P A White; M P Koopmans Journal: Euro Surveill Date: 2015-07-02
Authors: Alejandra Estévez; Wences Arvelo; Aron J Hall; María R López; Beatriz López; Lissette Reyes; Juan Carlos Moir; Nicole Gregoricus; Jan Vinjé; Umesh D Parashar; Kim A Lindblade Journal: J Med Virol Date: 2013-04-17 Impact factor: 2.327
Authors: Terry Fei Fan Ng; Laura Magaña; Anna Montmayeur; Maria Renee Lopez; Nicole Gregoricus; M Steven Oberste; Jan Vinjé; W Allan Nix Journal: Genome Announc Date: 2016-02-18
Authors: J A Ayukekbong; M E Andersson; G Vansarla; F Tah; T Nkuo-Akenji; M Lindh; T Bergström Journal: Epidemiol Infect Date: 2013-09-19 Impact factor: 4.434