WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 (UPI) -- U.S. schools are falling short in preventing illnesses caused by norovirus, frequently spread through school lunches, statistics indicate.
Figures from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that one-third of the 23,000 food-borne illness cases reported in schools from 1998 through 2007 were caused by norovirus, sickening about 7,500 children, USA Today reported Wednesday.
The newspaper said even though most such outbreaks start in school cafeterias, more than 8,500 U.S. schools failed to have their kitchens inspected at all last year while an additional 18,000 didn't meet a legal requirement calling for cafeteria inspections at least twice a year. That mandate is part of the National School Lunch Program, which provides food for 31 million U.S. schoolchildren.
USA Today said the U.S. Department of Agriculture has admitted that the rule is almost impossible to enforce and the law does not say what penalties schools would face if they do not get inspected. More than half the schools in eight states -- including California and New York -- reportedly failed to meet the two-inspection requirement during the 2007-08 school year.
