September is National Food Safety Month!

This year’s theme for National Food Safety Month is “Notorious Virus”! Join us as we explore how to protect yourself, family and friends from some of the leading causes of foodborne illness – Norovirus and Hepatitis A!

People can get viruses from food, water, or any contaminated surface. Foodborne illnesses from viruses typically occur through fecal-oral routes. Such is the case with Norovirus, one of the leading causes of foodborne illness.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), about 20 million people get sick each year with Norovirus.

It is very contagious and only a small amount of the virus is needed to make someone sick. Norovirus is frequently transmitted through airborne vomit particles.

Hepatitis A is another leading cause of foodborne illness. Hepatitis A is a contagious liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). The virus is found in the stool (feces) of people with HAV infection. It enters the body through the mouth after someone handles something contaminated with HAV, or eats or drinks something contaminated with HAV.

People usually get hepatitis A by having close contact with a person who is infected, from food or drinks prepared by someone who is infected, or by eating shellfish harvested from sewage-contaminated water.

In the USA, hepatitis A infections have declined by 90% since the hepatitis A vaccine first became available in 1995. However, it is still a public health concern and everyone should take precautions to prevent the spread of Hepatitis A and Norovirus:

Wash, Wash, WASH YOUR HANDS!

One of the best ways to avoid getting sick with norovirus or Hepatitis A is to follow public health guidelines when washing hands. This is especially important after using the restroom.

• WET YOUR HANDS AND ARMS
• APPLY SOAP 
• SCRUB HANDS AND ARMS FOR 10 TO 15 SECONDS 
• RINSE HANDS AND ARMS 
• DRY HANDS AND ARMS 

Clean, Clean CLEAN and sanitize food-contact surfaces.