title: First norovirus outbreaks associated with consumption of green seaweed (Enteromorpha spp.) in South Korea.
abstract: In February 2012, an outbreak of gastroenteritis was reported in school A; a successive outbreak was reported at school B. A retrospective cohort study conducted in school A showed that seasoned green seaweed with radishes (relative risk 7·9, 95% confidence interval 1·1-56·2) was significantly associated with illness. Similarly, a case-control study of students at school B showed that cases were 5·1 (95% confidence interval 1·1-24·8) times more likely to have eaten seasoned green seaweed with pears. Multiple norovirus genotypes were detected in samples from students in schools A and B. Norovirus GII.6 isolated from schools A and B were phylogenetically indistinguishable. Green seaweed was supplied by company X, and norovirus GII.4 was isolated from samples of green seaweed. Green seaweed was assumed to be linked to these outbreaks. To our knowledge, this is the first reported norovirus outbreak associated with green seaweed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine,Dongguk University College of Medicine,South Korea.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Division of Vaccine Research,Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,South Korea.
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.affiliation: Food Microbiology Division, Food Safety Evaluation Department,National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation,South Korea.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Division of Vaccine Research,Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,South Korea.
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Division of Epidemic Intelligence Service,Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,South Korea.
authors.forename: Y H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Division of Epidemic Intelligence Service,Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,South Korea.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Food Microbiology Division, Food Safety Evaluation Department,National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation,South Korea.
authors.forename: I S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Joo
authors.affiliation: Microbiology and Epidemiology Division,Gyeongsangnam-do Government Institute of Health and Environment,South Korea.
authors.forename: Y R
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Epidemiology Division,Busan Institute of Health and Environment,South Korea.
authors.forename: Y K
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Division of Epidemic Intelligence Service,Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,South Korea.
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Youn
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017250:Caliciviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D005516:Food Microbiology; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D029322:Norovirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012574:Schools; D044445:Ulva
keywords: Epidemiological investigation; South Korea; foodborne illness; green seaweed; norovirus