Which of the following illnesses requires exclusion or restriction?

Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that causes gastrointestinal illness, leading to symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea. Due to its ease of spreading and the severity of symptoms, public health guidelines recommend exclusion from food handling and food service settings for anyone confirmed to have norovirus or exhibiting its symptoms. This measure helps to prevent outbreaks in places where food is prepared or served, as the virus can be transmitted through contaminated food, surfaces, or direct contact with infected individuals.

In contrast, while influenza and tuberculosis can also pose health risks, the requirements for exclusion and restriction differ. Influenza, though contagious and serious, does not always result in mandatory exclusion from food service unless the individual is severely ill or unable to perform duties safely. The common cold is generally not treated as a reason for exclusion in food handling, as its symptoms typically do not pose significant risks of transmission through food. Tuberculosis is a communicable disease that may warrant exclusion, but typically, it requires specific conditions and assessments by health authorities to determine such a course of action. Thus, norovirus stands out as the primary illness where direct exclusion is generally mandated to protect public health within food service environments.