141st APHA Annual Meeting

In This section

279264
Norovirus transmission on farms during produce harvest and packing: A quantitative microbial risk assessment model approach

Tuesday, November 5, 2013 : 2:30 PM - 2:50 PM

Kira L. S. Newman , Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Justin Remais, PhD, MS , Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Juan Leon, PhD, MPH , Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Purpose: Noroviruses (NoV) are a major cause of acute gastrointestinal illness worldwide. NoV are highly infectious and can withstand chemical and physical stressors. NoV is associated with 40% of all produce outbreaks annually in the US. Quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) is a form of probabilistic modeling that simulates the transmission of microbes in the environment to estimate exposure levels. Methods: We developed a QMRA model of NoV transmission in farms and packing sheds using a multi-stage process beginning with simple deterministic modeling in Microsoft Excel and culminating in a complex stoichiometric model constructed in Oracle Crystal Ball. To enhance the model's data quality, we conducted transfer experiments in the laboratory to estimate NoV transmission to a variety of surfaces under a range of conditions. Results: Based on the deterministic model, fecal hand contamination was the greatest determinant of contamination, followed in importance by NoV excretion level. Key modifiable factors included hand washing and the number of times items are handled. Packer hand washing reduced contamination by 9.0%, and harvester hand washing reduced contamination by 2.5%. When the NoV excretion level was high and produce was handled multiple times during packing, it resulted in an increase of 26 NoV particles/cm^2, nearly twice the ID50. Discussion: QMRA modeling for NoV highlights modifiable factors that contribute to NoV transmission and allows for prioritization by effect size. The model supports agricultural practice guidelines that concentrate on hand washing and field toilet use and suggests that mechanization may reduce the risk of NoV contamination.

Learning Areas:
Biostatistics, economics
Environmental health sciences
Protection of the public in relation to communicable diseases including prevention or control
Public health biology
Public health or related laws, regulations, standards, or guidelines
Systems thinking models (conceptual and theoretical models), applications related to public health

Learning Objectives:
Identify contamination mechanisms for norovirus transmission in the agricultural environment; Compare good agricultural practices and engineering interventions for preventing norovirus transmission in the agricultural environment; Explain the importance of controlling norovirus transmission on farms.

Keywords: Food Safety, Infectious Diseases

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am an MD/PhD candidate currently conducting my dissertation research in epidemiology on norovirus and foodborne illness. Among my scientific interests has been the development of modeling strategies to assess risk and estimate burden of disease related to food production and foodborne illness. I have created multiple models of norovirus transmission in the agricultural environment.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.