Foodborne Viruses

Food-borne viruses are recognized as a major health concern, but their distribution, definition, and impact are poorly understood. The volume Food-Borne Viruses goes a long way in correcting that problem. Written by leading scientists in the field, it brings together the latest knowledge on these viral strains, their detection and control, and associated challenges.

Viral transmission through contaminated food and water claims hundreds of thousands of lives every year, particularly affecting children in developing nations. Foodborne viral pathogens are associated with gastroenteritis and hepatitis, causing widespread epidemics that affect all populations and demographics worldwide. Foodborne Viral Pathogens comprehensively covers the predominant etiological viral agents of foodborne disease, including norovirus, hepatitis A virus, hepatitis E virus, astrovirus, sapovirus and rotavirus, and several emerging viruses and prions. By improving food safety awareness and viral detection, and through promotion of global food safety standards, our ability to cope with and control foodborne disease will be enhanced. Foodborne Viral Pathogens includes a detailed review of the molecular biology, potential vaccines, and available antiviral treatments of all major foodborne viral pathogens and prions. Written by specialists and leading virologists, this book features techniques used for typing, viral detection, strategies for control, and viral risk assessments. This book is intended as a detailed handbook for food microbiology and medical applications and will be a useful guide for anyone with an interest in foodborne disease.

This is the first book to focus entirely on viruses in foods. It collates information on the occurrence, detection, transmission, and epidemiology of viruses in various foods. Although methods for bacterial detection in food are available, methods for detection of viruses in food, with the exception of shellfish, are not available. It is important, therefore, to develop methods for direct examination of food for viruses and to explore alternate indicators that can accurately reflect the virological quality of food. This book addresses these issues along with strategies for the prevention and control of viral contamination of food.

Globalization of the food supply has created conditions favorable for the emergence, reemergence, and spread of food-borne pathogens-compounding the challenge of anticipating, detecting, and effectively responding to food-borne threats to health. In the United States, food-borne agents affect 1 out of 6 individuals and cause approximately 48 million illnesses, 128,000 hospitalizations, and 3,000 deaths each year. This figure likely represents just the tip of the iceberg, because it fails to account for the broad array of food-borne illnesses or for their wide-ranging repercussions for consumers, government, and the food industry-both domestically and internationally. A One Health approach to food safety may hold the promise of harnessing and integrating the expertise and resources from across the spectrum of multiple health domains including the human and veterinary medical and plant pathology communities with those of the wildlife and aquatic health and ecology communities. The IOM's Forum on Microbial Threats hosted a public workshop on December 13 and 14, 2011 that examined issues critical to the protection of the nation's food supply. The workshop explored existing knowledge and unanswered questions on the nature and extent of food-borne threats to health. Participants discussed the globalization of the U.S. food supply and the burden of illness associated with foodborne threats to health; considered the spectrum of food-borne threats as well as illustrative case studies; reviewed existing research, policies, and practices to prevent and mitigate foodborne threats; and, identified opportunities to reduce future threats to the nation's food supply through the use of a "One Health" approach to food safety. Improving Food Safety Through a One Health Approach: Workshop Summary covers the events of the workshop and explains the recommendations for future related workshops.

Guide to Foodborne Pathogens coverspathogens—bacteria, viruses, and parasites—that aremost commonly responsible for foodborne illness. An essential guidefor anyone in the food industry, research, or regulation who needsto ensure or enforce food safety, the guide delves into the natureof illnesses, the epidemiology of pathogens, and current detection,prevention, and control methods. The guide further includeschapters on new technologies for microbial detection and theglobalization of the food supply, seafood toxins, and othermiscellaneous agents.

The accelerated globalization of the food supply, coupled with toughening government standards, is putting global food production, distribution, and retail industries under a high-intensity spotlight. High-publicity cases about foodborne illnesses over recent years have heightened public awareness of food safety issues, and momentum has been building to find new ways to detect and identify foodborne pathogens and eliminate food-related infections and intoxications. This extensively revised 4e covers how the incidence and impact of foodborne diseases is determined, foodborne intoxications with an introduction noting common features among these diseases and control measures that are applicable before and after the basic foodstuff is harvested. Provides a summary of the

The Bad Bug was created from the materials assembled at the FDA website of the same name. This handbook provides basic facts regarding foodborne pathogenic microorganisms and natural toxins. It brings together in one place information from the Food & Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, the USDA Food Safety Inspection Service, and the National Institutes of Health.