Only 1 percent of norovirus outbreaks are on cruise ships

Norovirus outbreaks most often makes headlines when they happen on cruise ships, but these only account for about 1% of all reported outbreaks, according to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

In norovirus outbreaks for which investigators reported the source of contamination, 70% are caused by infected food workers, CDC reported.

Of outbreaks caused by food workers, 54% involve the touching of ready-to-eat foods with bare hands, CDC said.

Ready-to-eat foods may be served without additional preparation, such as washed raw fruits and vegetables for salads or sandwiches, baked goods or items that have already been cooked.

According to CDC, observations of food service workers have shown that they practice proper hand washing only one out of four times. The CDC recommends that workers “wash hands carefully and often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the restroom.”