PREVALENCE OF NOROVIRUS INFECTION AMONG ASYMTOMATIC FOOD HANDLERS (VENDORS) IN A UNIVERSITY CAMPUS IN LAGOS, NIGERIA

Abstract

Norovirus (NV) has caused large outbreaks of gastroenteritis in both developed and developing countries due to consumption of contaminated foods. Studies of NV epidemiology among food handlers have been underreported in Nigeria. NV epidemiology surveillance was carried out among asymptomatic food vendors / handlers at a university campus in Lagos between January and March, 2012. Presence and prevalence of NV was determined by Enzyme Immuno Assay technique using commercially available Norovirus genus-specific kits (Norovirus RIDASCREEN® r-Biopharm, Germany). Faecal samples (n=150) collected from food handlers comprising of 29 males and 121 females were screened and an overall prevalence of 17.3% was recorded. Prevalence of infection was statistically significant in male than in female (?² =7.379 p? 0.05).  The hygienic status of the food handlers was very poor as high percentage of them tested positive to NV infection. The study is of public health significance as it shows that the food handlers serve as potential threat and source of infection to the populace. It is therefore recommended that food handlers should be enlightened on the need to embrace good hygienic practice to prevent transmission of infection to susceptible individuals