Human noroviruses are the leading cause of acute gastroenteritis and the main cause of foodborne disease in the U.S. Among foodborne norovirus outbreaks, 81% occur in commercial food service settings and 3% in health-care settings. Most foods are contaminated at the point of preparation or service and infected food handlers play an important role in the transmission of the virus, either by fecally contaminated hands or surfaces; occasionally as a consequence of vomiting incidents. Identification of frequently touched surfaces and proper decontamination regimens are key measures to minimize food contamination in food service operations. Recently, surface sampling techniques have been refined so that we are now able to quantitatively detect norovirus RNA on hard and even some soft surfaces. These methods facilitate characterization of environmental contamination with norovirus; investigation of foodborne outbreaks associated with norovirus, when clinical or food samples are not available; and assessment of the effectiveness of environmental or hand hygiene practices in food handling as described in Codex CAC/GL 79-2012. The proposed symposium will focus on the latest developments in surface sampling methods specifically for recovery of human norovirus, and how these methods are being used to assess and control contamination.

Presentations