[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 182 (Tuesday, September 21, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 51127]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-24530]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


Diseases Transmitted Through the Food Supply

AGENCY: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of 
Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION: Notice of annual update of list of infectious and communicable 
diseases that are transmitted through handling the food supply and the 
methods by which such diseases are transmitted.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Section 103(d) of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, 
Public Law 101-336, requires the Secretary to publish a list of 
infectious and communicable diseases that are transmitted through 
handling the food supply and to review and update the list annually. 
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a final 
list on August 16, 1991 (56 FR 40897) and updates on September 8, 1992 
(57 FR 40917); January 13, 1994 (59 FR 1949); August 15, 1996 (61 FR 
42426); and September 22, 1997 (62 FR 49518); and September 15, 1998 
(63 FR 49359). No new information that would warrant additional changes 
has been received; therefore the list, as set forth in the last update 
and below, remains unchanged.

EFFECTIVE DATE: September 21, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Arthur P. Liang, National Center 
for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
(CDC), 1600 Clifton Road, NE., Mailstop G-24, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, 
telephone (404) 639-2213.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 103(d) of the Americans with 
Disabilities Act of 1990, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 12113(d), requires the 
Secretary of Health and Human Services to:
    1. Review all infectious and communicable diseases which may be 
transmitted through handling the food supply;
    2. Publish a list of infectious and communicable diseases which are 
transmitted through handling the food supply;
    3. Publish the methods by which such diseases are transmitted; and,
    4. Widely disseminate such information regarding the list of 
diseases and their modes of transmissibility to the general public.
    Additionally, the list is to be updated annually.
    Since the last publication of the list on September 15, 1998 (63 FR 
49359), CDC has received no information to indicate that additional 
unlisted diseases are transmitted through handling the food supply. 
Therefore, the list set forth below is unchanged from the list 
published in the Federal Register on September 15, 1998.

I. Pathogens Often Transmitted by Food Contaminated by Infected 
Persons Who Handle Food, and Modes of Transmission of Such 
Pathogens

    The contamination of raw ingredients from infected food-producing 
animals and cross-contamination during processing are more prevalent 
causes of foodborne disease than is contamination of foods by persons 
with infectious or contagious diseases. However, some pathogens are 
frequently transmitted by food contaminated by infected persons. The 
presence of any one of the following signs or symptoms in persons who 
handle food may indicate infection by a pathogen that could be 
transmitted to others through handling the food supply: diarrhea, 
vomiting, open skin sores, boils, fever, dark urine, or jaundice. The 
failure of food-handlers to wash hands (in situations such as after 
using the toilet, handling raw meat, cleaning spills, or carrying 
garbage, for example), wear clean gloves, or use clean utensils is 
responsible for the foodborne transmission of these pathogens. Non-
foodborne routes of transmission, such as from one person to another, 
are also major contributors in the spread of these pathogens. Pathogens 
that can cause diseases after an infected person handles food are the 
following:

Caliciviruses (Norwalk and Norwalk-like viruses)
Hepatitis A virus
Salmonella typhi
Shigella species
Staphylococcus aureus
Streptococcus pyogenes

II. Pathogens Occasionally Transmitted by Food Contaminated by 
Infected Persons Who Handle Food, but Usually Transmitted by 
Contamination at the Source or in Food Processing or by Non-
Foodborne Routes

    Other pathogens are occasionally transmitted by infected persons 
who handle food, but usually cause disease when food is intrinsically 
contaminated or cross-contaminated during processing or preparation. 
Bacterial pathogens in this category often require a period of 
temperature abuse to permit their multiplication to an infectious dose 
before they will cause disease in consumers.
    Preventing food contact by persons who have an acute diarrheal 
illness will decrease the risk of transmitting the following pathogens:

Campylobacter jejuni
Cryptosporidium parvum 
Entamoeba histolytica 
Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli 
Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli 
Giardia lamblia 
Nontyphoidal Salmonella 
Rotavirus 
Taenia solium 
Vibrio cholerae 01 
Yersinia enterocolitica 

References

    1. World Health Organization. Health surveillance and management 
procedures for food-handling personnel: report of a WHO 
consultation. World Health Organization technical report series; 
785. Geneva: World Health Organization, 1989.
    2. Frank JF, Barnhart HM. Food and dairy sanitation. In: Last 
JM, ed. Maxcy-Rosenau public health and preventive medicine, 12th 
edition. New York Appleton-Century-Crofts, 1986:765-806.
    3. Bennett JV, Holmberg SD, Rogers MF, Solomon SL. Infectious 
and parasitic diseases. In: Amler RW, Dull HB, eds. Closing the gap: 
the burden of unnecessary illness. New York: Oxford University 
Press, 1987:102-114.
    4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Locally acquired 
neurocysticercosis--North Carolina, Massachusetts, and South 
Carolina, 1989-1991. MMWR 1992; 41:1-4.
    5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Foodborne 
Outbreak of Cryptosporidiosis-Spokane, Washington, 1997. MMWR 1998; 
47:27.

    Dated: September 15, 1999.
Joseph R. Carter,
Associate Director for Management and Operations, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 99-24530 Filed 9-20-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P