Bakery workers linked to norovirus outbreak in Japanese schoolkids
In a follow-up to a report late last week where nearly 1,000 people, primarily schoolchildren, contracted the gastrointestinal infection norovirus, an investigation reveals the source of the outbreak was three female workers at a Hamamatsu bakery, according to a The Japan News report today.
Public domain image/Daniel Sone
According to the report, the women, workers at Hofuku, a company that produced bread, were found to be carriers of norovirus. They reportedly handled the bread that has been linked to the outbreak.
Yoshinao Terada, chief of the city government’s living and health section, said at a press conference, “It is highly likely that persons with the virus took part in the production process leading to contamination of the bread.”
The company explained that the three workers from whom the viruses were detected appeared to have no issues with their health or had shown any symptoms.
The company ordered the three workers to stay home from work and specialists began sterilizing the plant.
905 schoolchildren and 41 teachers in 14 schools in the Japanese city of Hamamatsu were stricken with the gastrointestinal disease.
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