New York Personal Injury Lawyer Kenneth A. Wilhelm Reacts to CDC Special Report on Norovirus Outbreaks

The results of a new study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published in the June 2014 Vital Signs finds that more norovirus outbreaks occur in the United States due to food handlers than on cruise ships.

CDC reports that norovirus is also the most often diagnosed factor in acute gastroenteritis cases in the United States, leading to about 21 million illnesses, 71,000 hospitalizations and 800 deaths

New York, N.Y (PRWEB) July 09, 2014

A new report published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the June edition of Vital Signs states that although norovirus outbreaks get attention for occurring on cruise ships, those account for only 1 percent of all reported norovirus outbreaks. According to the CDC study, norovirus outbreaks occur anywhere people gather or where food is served. The infection spreads quickly particularly when food handlers who are infected with the virus contaminate the food they are serving to others, the report states. In fact, CDC investigators found that more than 70 percent of norovirus outbreaks are caused by food handlers.

Based on the CDC's website, norovirus is the most common cause of foodborne illnesses in the United States. This virus is extremely contagious and can be transmitted through those who are infected. CDC reports that norovirus is also the most often diagnosed factor in acute gastroenteritis cases in the United States, leading to about 21 million illnesses, 71,000 hospitalizations and 800 deaths.

This report suggests that negligence on the part of restaurant workers may be the reason for some of the serious food-borne illnesses that occur nationwide, said New York personal injury lawyer Kenneth A. Wilhelm. "It is the responsibility of restaurants to train their employees and ensure that those who are involved in food preparation, handling and serving wash their hands properly."

Restaurants should also ensure that employees who are sick, particularly with vomiting or diarrhea, do not come to work until at least 48 hours after their symptoms have stopped. "When those who are sick show up to work and handle the food, they contaminate it, causing the infection to spread to their customers. This study is an important reminder for all of us that norovirus outbreaks are more likely to occur in our neighborhood eatery than on a distant cruise ship.

Wilhelm offers the following tips to help prevent norovirus infections:

Practice proper hand washing. Wash your hands with soap and water especially after using the toilet and changing diapers and before eating, preparing or handling food.
Wash fruits and vegetables and cook seafood thoroughly. Food that is contaminated with norovirus should be discarded.
Do not prepare food for others when you are sick.
Clean and disinfect contaminated surfaces with bleach or other disinfectants.

About the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm

The Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm is a personal injury litigation firm with an unwavering dedication to its clients. With more than 42 years of experience, our firm strives to obtain the best compensation for those who have been injured or those who have lost a loved one due to an accident or by someone else's negligence. We handle cases dealing with personal injury, medical malpractice, wrongful death, train accidents, workers' compensation, dental malpractice, motor vehicle accidents, pedestrian accidents, rape, paralysis, comas, seizures, false arrest, lead poisoning, trips and slips and falls, falls on sidewalks or stairs, elevator accidents, construction accidents, building collapses and explosions, Erb's palsy, cerebral palsy, brain damage, blindness, hearing loss, dog bite cases, fire and smoke inhalation accidents, bicycle accidents, falls from windows or scaffolds, food poisoning injuries, carbon monoxide accidents, and many other types of accidents and injuries.

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