Human noroviruses are responsible for the majority of outbreaks of acute viral gastroenteritis worldwide and are a leading cause of foodborne illness. Fecal material from infected individuals plays a key role in norovirus transmission.  However, vomiting is the hallmark symptom of illness, and virus particles are present in human vomit, perhaps at very high concentrations.  Epidemiological evidence has long supported the hypothesis that aerosolization of norovirus during projectile vomiting contributes to transmission, including the contamination of food.  However, recent laboratory evidence supports this and actually provides quantitative data of norovirus aerosolization that can be used in support of risk modeling.  The purpose of this short symposium is to examine the significance of vomiting in foodborne norovirus transmission, and what is being done to contain this potential contamination source.

Presentations