Author(s): Benjamin Pope and Kristen Pogreba-BrownBenjamin Pope and Kristen Pogreba-Brown
A laboratory-confirmed Norovirus outbreak occurred at an Arizona ski resort February 2013. A case-control study was performed by the University of Arizona’s student outbreak response team (SAFER) in collaboration with county and state health departments. 46 cases and 25 controls were interviewed quickly. Having eaten at a restaurant at the ski resort was significantly associated with being a case (odds ratio [OR]=9.7) and in particular, the base restaurant (OR=24.9). While the outbreak was likely the result of environmental contamination in the restaurant, the consumption of French fries may have played a significant role. This investigation highlights a successful collaboration between academic and applied public health.
