Norovirus Affects Millions, Caused By Food Workers

(CBS ATLANTA) -- According to recent government reports, nearly 20 million people get sick every year from contracting the norovirus.

The report shows that the outbreaks mainly start with a food worker already infected with the virus who continues to work with the food causing contamination. In fact, one in five food preparation workers reported having worked with food while sick with a stomach bug.

According to Dr. Thomas Frieden, director of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, "workers who are infected with Norovirus were associated with about seventy percent of the reported outbreaks from contaminated food where factors contributed to contamination were identified," said Frieden.

More than half of the outbreaks involved food workers that were dealing with food that was ready to be eaten with their bare hands.

The food service industry plans to take necessary hygiene precautions in order to prevent further outbreaks.

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