PUBLIC HEALTH

CASINO STAFF
WHY HAVE PUBLIC HEALTH

&

WHAT DO THEY PREVENT

 Outbreaks 2000-2004
Year Viral Bacterial Unknown Total

2000 4 1 1 6

2001 4 0 3 7

2002 13 3 7 23
2003 18 0 12 30
2004* 7 0 4 11
Total 46 4 27 77
*to April 15
 Infants and young children
 Pregnant women
 Elderly people
 People taking certain medications
 People with weakened immune systems
 WHAT CAUSES ILLNESS?

 MICROORGANISMS
 WHAT CAUSES ILLNESS?

 TYPES OF
MICROORGANISMS
–BACTERIA
–VIRUSES
–FUNGUS
–MOLDS
HOW DO THEY
TRAVEL?
 GROW FAST
OR
SLOWLLLLLLLY?
Growth Stages of Bacteria
Bacterial Growth
 Viruses
 Smaller then bacteria

 Only grow inside cells of people

 Must be passed from one human to another

 Food is ONE method of transmission

 Viruses
 Low infective doses

– Easily spread on hands of ill food handlers

– Easy to get on hands from nose, mouth or other

body parts
 Viruses
 Transmitted from ill person in bodily fluids
– Nasal secretions
– Urine
– Feces
 Must enter the body through a specific
method (eating) or illness will not occur
 Most viruses are passed through poor
personal hygiene
 NORWALK VIRUS
 NORWALK VIRUS – Gastrointestinal Illness similar
to a flu like virus. Spread through fecal oral route.

 SYMPTOMS
– Diarrhea
– Vomiting
– Nausea

 ONSET – 12-48 Hours

 DURATION OF ILLNESS -12-60 Hours
 NORWALK VIRUS
 CONTROL MEASURES:
– Strict Adherence to Food Handling Practices
& Personal Hygiene
– Sanitizing of All Person to Person Contact
Surfaces - Housekeeping
 Chlorine up to 1000 ppm on hard, non color fast
surfaces.
 Phenyl based disinfectants for fabric, upholstery, &
carpeting.
– Strict Handwashing
– Isolation of Ill Persons
 TWO GOALS
1. CONTROL THE HAZARD

AND

2. NO FURTHER CONTAMINATION
 Proper Handwashing Procedure

1. Wet your hands 2. Apply soap 3. Rub hands together

with hot running for at least twenty
water seconds

4. Clean under 5. Rinse hands 6. Dry hands

fingernails and thoroughly under
between fingers running water
 WHEN SHOULD
CASINO STAFF
WASH THEIR HANDS?
 WHY NOT WASH HANDS
 HAND WASHING IS NOT HARD!!!

 HAND WASHING DOES NOT HURT!!!

 THERE IS NEVER A GOOD EXCUSE FOR

NOT WASHING HANDS!!!