oth food handlers were now positive for norovirus. In the inspection after the second outbreak, as in the previous visit, sinks in the toilets and handwashing points in the kitchen had not been equipped with soap dispensers and paper towels. Not following guidelines for disinfectant to be used to clean surfaces was also observed, and a company was asked to come in and disinfect the kitchen and toilets.

To avoid successive outbreaks in the same facility, food handlers with symptoms of gastroenteritis should not go to work for up to 48 hours after resolution of symptoms, said researchers.

“It is also necessary to make adequate devices for proper handwashing (soap dispensers and hand dryers) available everywher. These results highlight the importance of exclusion from work of food handlers with gastroenteritis, the adequate availability of mechanisms for correct handwashing and the correct cleaning of surfaces,” they added.