BCSGA Norovirus Committee

Description of the topic:
Norovirus illnesses have been linked to the consumption of raw oysters grown in British Columbia. These illnesses have resulted in farm closures, reduced sales, border closures, employee layoffs, and reputational damage. The topic is technically complex, requiring a concerted effort to understand and address the environmental occurrence, epidemiological assessment of illnesses, regulatory management of sewage, and regulatory management of closures associated with Norovirus illnesses.

What is the intended outcome of the committee:
The BCSGA Norovirus Committee was formed to develop and implement a clear and actionable set of objectives to minimize the impact and likelihood of Norovirus illnesses associated with the consumption of raw oysters from BC.

Committee Objectives:

1. Refine the system for illness investigations and how they are linked to oyster consumption:

• Is it really norovirus or something else? Public health and BCCDC are following poor epidemiological practices. Norovirus is not listed as a reportable disease under the Health Act Communicable Disease Regulation – unless it is considered food borne or institutional outbreak illnesses – the way the system is set up leads to confirmation bias. There seems to be clear differences in the administration of a National policy between Pacific and Atlantic regions.
• Norovirus cases are disproportionately attributed to shellfish, even though foods like leafy greens and fresh fruits are well-documented vehicles for norovirus transmission

2. Identify and address the likely source(s) of Norovirus contamination into Baynes Sound:

• There are many potential sources, however specific evidence suggests that the Trent River is the likeliest source of the large persistence contamination events.
• Prioritize Cumberland waste treatment, link to rainfall events during the norovirus season, which would help demonstrate that we know what is happening with evidence to inform future management.
• Identifying gaps in sewage management regulations and enforcement.

3. Create a reasonable science and risk-based strategy to manage potential contamination events, farm closures, re-openings, and product relays associated with Norovirus:

• Relay procedures to allow farmers to continue to operate.
• Inactive norovirus fragments at sites identified by eDNA used to inform regulators, need to move away from reliance on these for opening and closing.

Committee Members: Alex Munro, Gordy McLellan, Jeff Armstrong, Sean Reid, Tim Green, Leigh Loader, Gabe Patterson, Dave Ritchie
Chair: Alex Munro
BCSGA Staff: Nico Prins, Malcolm Cowan