What is hazard?

A hazard is a dangerous
phenomenon, substance,
human activity or condition.
It may cause loss of life, injury
or other health impacts,
property damage, loss of
livelihoods and services,
social and economic
disruption, or environmental
damage.
A hazard is a risk, danger, chance, or probability.
In all cases, the meanings relate to unpleasant
things occurring
Classifying hazards
We can classify hazards in many different ways. For example, we may specify the hazard’s origin. Perhaps there is stored
energy which can cause damage if that energy gets out.
Stored energy exists in many forms, such as mechanical, thermal, radioactive, electrical, or chemical.
We sometimes classify hazards according to situations. Examples include oxygen-depleted atmospheres, repetitive
movements, and protruding or low-hanging objects.

Natural
A natural hazard is an extreme event. This event occurs naturally and causes harm to property, humans, possessions, etc.
For example, hurricanes, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and extremely cold or hot weather are natural hazards. Floods are
also natural hazards.

Anthropogenic
Something that humans cause is anthropogenic, i.e., it is man-made. Therefore, anthropogenic hazards are unpleasant or
dangerous things that we cause.
For example, murder, civil disorder, terrorism, and war are anthropogenic hazards. We also include some fires, industrial
spillages, and power outages in this category.
Technological
Technological hazards are also related to things that humans cause. However, the term is more specific.
Examples include nuclear radiation, dam failures, technological accidents, chemical spills, some explosions, and industrial
pollution.
Biological Hazards:
Biological hazards are organisms, or substances produced by organisms, that pose a threat to human health. They are a
major concern in food processing because they cause most food borne illness outbreaks.
Major biological hazards include –
- Bacteria ex: Salmonella spp., Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus,
Clostridium botulinum,
- Yeast & Mold ex: Candida, Aspergillus sp, Helicosporium

Viruses do not have the mechanisms needed to survive independently and seek out plant, animal, or bacterial host
cells where they can use those cells' machinery to replicate. Therefore, viruses will use one of several different
transmission routes to infect host cells, of which include direct contact, indirect, common vehicle, and airborne
transmission.
Direct contact transmission
The direct contact transmission route requires physical contact between an infected and uninfected subject through
kissing, biting, or sexual intercourse, for example. Some of the most notable sexually transmitted viruses include the
human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and
human papillomavirus types 16 and 18 (HPV-16 and HPV18, respectively).
Indirect transmission
Through indirect transmission, the virus is transmitted through contact with contaminated objects or materials such as
medical equipment or shared eating utensils.

Human norovirus, previously known as Norwalk virus, was discovered in an outbreak of diarrhea
and vomiting among the elementary school students in Norwalk, Ohio and was the first viral
agent shown to cause gastroenteritis.
Illness due to this virus was initially described in 1929 as “winter vomiting disease” due to its
seasonal predilection and frequent presentation of patients with vomiting as a primary symptom.
Structure of the Norwalk virus (1HIM), an RNA virus from the
family Caliciviridae and the major cause of epidemic
gastroenteritis in humans.
Hepatitis A
 Hepatitis A is a contagious virus that can cause liver disease. A hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection can range in severity
from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a severe illness lasting several months. In rare cases, particularly for people
with a pre-existing health condition or people with weakened immune systems, hepatitis A infections can progress to
liver failure and death.

The majority of hepatitis A infections are from unknown causes or from being in close contact with an infected
person; however, some hepatitis A infections are caused by eating or drinking contaminated food or water.
Contamination of food and water can occur when an infected food handler prepares food without appropriate hand
washing hygiene.
Symptoms
Illness usually occurs within 15 to 50 days after eating or drinking contaminated food or water. Symptoms of hepatitis A
infection include fatigue, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, jaundice, dark urine, and pale stool. In some instances,
particularly in children under the age of six, hepatitis A infection may be asymptomatic.
People with hepatitis A infections usually completely recover within one to two weeks; however, in rare cases hepatitis A
may become chronic, causing relapsing infection. Chronic hepatitis A infection can lead to more severe health problems,
including liver failure, and death.
Due to the range in severity of illness, people should consult their health care provider if they suspect that they have
developed symptoms that resemble a(n) hepatitis A infection.
t-Risk Groups
All people are susceptible to hepatitis A infection; however, individuals who have had hepatitis A before or who have been
vaccinated are immune to hepatitis A infection. Learn more about People at Risk of Foodborne Illness.
Treatment and Prevention of Hepatitis A
Because hepatitis A virus infections can have serious health consequences, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) recommends providing post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for unvaccinated people who have consumed any
contaminated food or water within two weeks of exposure.
PEP consists of:
•Hepatitis A vaccine for people between the ages of 1 and 40 years
•Hepatitis A virus-specific immunoglobulin (IG) for people outside of this age range, but the hepatitis A vaccine can be
substituted if IG is not available.
•Those with evidence of previous vaccination or who can confirm previous hepatitis A illness do not require PEP.
 Rotavirus
Unlike common diarrhoea, Rotavirus is the most common cause of
severe diarrhoea in infants and young children.
What causes rotavirus?
Rotavirus is a virus that spreads through hand-to-mouth contact. It shows up in an infected child’s poop (stool) a few days
before symptoms start. And it can remain in your child’s bowel movements for up to 10 days after symptoms stop.
Is rotavirus contagious?
Rotavirus is very contagious. Before the rotavirus vaccines, most children got rotavirus by the age of 5. Since the vaccines,
the number of children who get rotavirus infection has dropped.
How does rotavirus spread?
Rotavirus spreads through contact with poop. For example, you might change a soiled diaper of a baby with rotavirus. If you
don’t wash your hands afterward, you could get virus particles in your mouth. Family members need to wash their hands
well to prevent the virus from spreading.
Who’s at risk for rotavirus?
Typically, children in daycare or other programs with large numbers of children are at a higher risk. Children between the
ages of 3 months and 3 years who haven’t received the vaccine tend to get the most severe disease.
Can adults get rotavirus?
Rotavirus in adults does occur, but they tend to get less sick than young children do. Adults at risk for rotavirus include those
who:
•Are age 65 and older.
•Care for children who have rotavirus.
•Have compromised immune systems.
A parasite is a living organism (maybe a bug, bacteria, fungi, or protozoa) that lives upon and derives nutrients directly
from a host (another living organism) without giving any benefit to the host. Without a host, a parasite cannot live,
grow and multiply. Therefore, a parasite normally doesn’t kill the host, but it can spread diseases, and some of these
can be fatal. Parasites can be unicellular or multicellular and are often smaller than the host.

Types of parasites
Based on their location, parasites may be classified as:
Ectoparasite
Organisms that inhabit the surface of the body of the host without gaining access to internal tissues are called
ectoparasites. For example, ticks, fleas, lice, and mites attach or burrow into the skin of humans.
Ectoparasites can survive on the host’s skin and cause skin irritations. Infection can range from asymptomatic to
moderate itching. The infection by these parasites is called an infestation.
Some common ectoparasites of humans are:
Scabies (Sarcoptes scabiei)
Scabies mite burrows into the upper layer of the skin. They can intense itching and a pimple-like skin rash. Scabies
outbreaks can occur in crowded living facilities such as nursing homes, dorm rooms, and prisons.
Bed bug (Cimex lectularius)
Bed bugs are parasitic insects that feed solely on the blood of people and animals while they sleep. Bed bug infestations
usually occur in apartments, shelters, rooming houses, hotels, cruise ships, buses, trains, and dorm rooms.
Fleas
Fleas are ectoparasites of humans. Their bites cause itching and irritation. They also serve as vectors for transmitting
diseases like cat scratch disease, flea-borne typhus, and plague.
Ticks: Ticks are tiny blood-sucking ectoparasites. Common ticks are black-legged tick (Ixodes scapularis), lone star tick
(amblyomma americanum), American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis, D. similis), brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus
sanguineus), groundhog tick (Ixodes cookei), gulf coast tick (Amblyomma maculatum), Rocky Mountain wood tick
(Dermacentor andersoni), soft tick (Ornithodoros spp.), and western black-legged tick (Ixodes pacificus).
nematode, also called roundworm, any worm of the phylum
Nematoda. Nematodes are among the most abundant animals
on Earth. They occur as parasites in animals and plants or as
free-living forms in soil, fresh water, marine environments, and
even such unusual places as vinegar, beer malts, and water-
filled cracks deep within Earth’s crust. The number of named
species is about 20,000, but it is probable that only a small
proportion of the free-living forms have been identified. A great
deal of research has been conducted on the parasitic forms
because most of them have some medical, veterinary, or
economic importance
Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal illness caused by the microscopic
parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis. People can become infected
with Cyclospora by consuming food or water contaminated
with the parasite. People living or traveling in countries where
cyclosporiasis is endemic may be at increased risk for infection.
his review explores the main spore-forming bacteria involved in
the spoilage of various processed foods.