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Gastronomic Gastroenteritis at The Fat Duck

By Nienke E. van Houten

Gastronomic Gastroenteritis at The Fat Duck


 

Abstract

This interrupted case study was inspired by and uses data from one of the largest commercial restaurant associated outbreaks of norovirus reported in the literature. It applies basic principles of epidemiology and outbreak investigation to a shellfish-linked norovirus outbreak at a Michelin star restaurant in the UK in 2009. The details of the case are taken directly from the report that was produced by the health protection agency and publications that followed. Students take on the role of an infection control team (ICT) that is responsible for identifying the extent and source of the outbreak. They are taken through different stages of the outbreak investigation and at each stage asked what their team would do in response to given pieces of information. Specifically, students uncover the scope and source of the outbreak using descriptive and basic analytical epidemiology methods. The case is suitable for first or second year introductory courses in microbiology, epidemiology, or other infectious disease related topics.

   

Date Posted

12/22/2016

Overview

Objectives

  • Review steps of an outbreak investigation in the context of a food-borne disease investigation.
  • Understand the role of descriptive epidemiology in the context of an outbreak, and the importance of defining a case.
  • Interpret an epidemic curve and calculate incubation period from a graph produced from outbreak data.
  • Identify transmission mode and predict the impact on the spread of the outbreak and explain what is meant by secondary transmission.
  • Distinguish between case-control and cohort study and determine which study type is appropriate for this outbreak investigation.

Keywords

outbreak investigation; norovirus; foodborne illness; restaurant; Blumenthal; Fat Duck; gastroenterology; food poisoning; epidemic curve

  

Subject Headings

Epidemiology
Food Science / Technology
Microbiology
Science (General)

EDUCATIONAL LEVEL

Undergraduate lower division

  

FORMAT

PDF

   

TOPICAL AREAS

N/A

   

LANGUAGE

English

   

TYPE/METHODS

Interrupted

 

 

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