Keep food safety during the holidays

With start of the celebrations. Outbreaks of foodborne diseases cause disease, hospitalizations and deaths.

The food is prepared with contaminated food produces the norovirus or food poisoning.

The holiday season where increasing meetings with friends, work and family, so it is very important to ensure the quality of the food you eat begins to avoid the risk of an infectious disease that ride to the hospital. Many outbreaks occur because the food is contaminated during preparation or serving, because the people who handle food or not I wash poorly washed hands. Reports show that Salmonella was the second most common of the infectious diseases that occur in this season cause.

The major causes of the outbreaks were birds (15%) , beef (14 %) and fish (14%).

Food poisoning or norovirus

Norovirus is an infection that affects the stomach and intestines causing an illness called gastroenteritis (inflammation of the stomach and intestines ) .

Noroviruses are the most common cause of gastroenteritis in the United States.

Many names for the same symptoms:

Perhaps you have heard that norovirus disease is also known as " food poisoning " or " stomach flu." It is true that food poisoning can be caused by norovirus. However, other microbes and chemicals can also cause it.

Norovirus disease is usually not serious. Most people recover in 1 to 2 days . But it is possible that the infection is severe in young children, the elderly and people with other conditions ; norovirus infection can lead to severe dehydration , hospitalization and even death .

The norovirus and food

Noroviruses are a major cause of illness from contaminated foods in the United States.

The types of foods that are most frequently associated with norovirus outbreaks include leafy greens ( such as lettuce) , fresh fruits and seafood  (like oysters). However, any food that is served raw or handled after cooking can become contaminated with norovirus.

Salmonella

Salmonella is the name of a group of bacteria. is the most common cause of foodborne illness. Salmonella found in raw poultry, eggs, beef, and sometimes on unwashed fruit and vegetables .

The elderly, infants and people with weak immune systems are more susceptible to getting sick more seriously . In these patients, the Salmonella infection may spread from the intestines to the bloodstream and then to other body sites and can cause death unless rapid antibiotic treatment is administered.

Security

If you are the host of some of the celebrations , be sure to follow these tips to keep both your guests as you sick with an infectious bacteria.

Practice proper hand hygiene: wash hands thoroughly with soap and water, especially after using the bathroom or changing diapers, and always before eating or preparing food. If soap and water are not, you can clean your hands with hand sanitizer alcohol base. These products with alcohol can quickly reduce the number of germs on hands in some situations, but should not replace washing with soap and water.

Practice precautionary measures in the kitchen: Thoroughly wash fruits and vegetables, and cook oysters and other fine seafood before eating.

Do not prepare food when you have infection: the sick norovirus should not prepare food for others while experiencing symptoms and for 3 days after they recover from the disease.

Clean and disinfect contaminated surfaces: After an episode of vomiting or diarrhea, immediately clean and disinfect contaminated surfaces with household cleaner containing chlorine , as directed by the label. If there is no cleanser that class , you can use a solution prepared with 5 tablespoons to 1.5 cups of household bleach per gallon of water .

Wash clothing: remove all clothing and bedding that has been contaminated with vomit or stool and wash immediately. Handle with care clothes and dirty clothes, no shake, to prevent the spread of the virus. Use disposable or rubber gloves if you have them , while handling soiled clothes and bed linen, and wash your hands afterwards. These clothes and bedding should be washed with detergent in the wash cycle up the washer and tumble dried .