Publications
Statistical models for estimating individual heterogeneity in acquisition of infectious diseases and outbreak risk in highly vaccinated populations Hasselt University
Reported foodborne outbreaks due to noroviruses in Belgium: the link between food and patient investigations in an international context Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Ghent University
Reevaluation of epidemiological criteria for identifying outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis due to norovirus: United States, 1998-2000 Institute of Tropical Medicine
BACKGROUND: Noroviruses are believed to be the most common etiologic agent of foodborne outbreaks of gastroenteritis, yet diagnostic tests for these agents are not readily available in the United States. In the absence of assays to detect norovirus, several clinical and epidemiologic profiles--the criteria of Kaplan et al. (vomiting in >50% of patients, mean incubation period of 24-48 h, mean duration of illness of 12-60 h, and no ...
Outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis on cruise ships and on land: identification of a predominant circulating strain of norovirus--United States, 2002 Institute of Tropical Medicine
In 2002, a sharp increase in outbreaks of norovirus-associated illness, both on cruise ships and on land, encouraged us to examine the molecular epidemiology of detected noroviruses, to identify a common strain or source. Of 14 laboratory-confirmed outbreaks on cruise ships, 12 (86%) were attributed to caliciviruses; among these 12, outbreak characteristics included continuation on successive cruises in 6 (50%), multiple modes of transmission ...
Molecular and epidemiologic trends of caliciviruses associated with outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis in the United States, 2000-2004 Institute of Tropical Medicine
Between July 2000 and June 2004, fecal specimens from 270 outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis were sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by local or state health departments for calicivirus testing. Of the 226 outbreaks that met the criteria for inclusion in the present study, caliciviruses were detected in 184 (81%) by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and nucleotide sequencing. Nursing homes, retirement ...
Outbreaks of gastroenteritis associated with noroviruses on cruise ships--United States, 2002 Institute of Tropical Medicine
During January 1-December 2, 2002, CDC's Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP), which conducts surveillance for acute gastroenteritis (AGE) on cruise ships with foreign itineraries sailing into U.S. ports received reports of 21 outbreaks of AGE on 17 cruise ships. Of the 21 outbreaks, nine were confirmed by laboratory analysis of stool specimens from affected persons to be associated with noroviruses, three were attributable to bacterial agents, ...
A review of the vector management methods to prevent and control outbreaks of West Nile virus infection and the challenge for Europe Institute of Tropical Medicine
West Nile virus infection is a growing concern in Europe. Vector management is often the primary option to prevent and control outbreaks of the disease. Its implementation is, however, complex and needs to be supported by integrated multidisciplinary surveillance systems and to be organized within the framework of predefined response plans. The impact of the vector control measures depends on multiple factors and the identification of the ...
Epidemiological and genetic characteristics of norovirus outbreaks in long-term care facilities, 2003-2006 Institute of Tropical Medicine
To identify the epidemiological and genetic characteristics of norovirus (NoV) outbreaks and estimate the impact of NoV infections in an older population, we analysed epidemiological and laboratory data collected using standardized methods from long-term care facilities (LTCFs) during 2003-2006. Faecal specimens were tested for NoV by real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. NoV strains were genotyped by sequencing. Of the ...