Epidemiologic investigation of a Yersinia camp outbreak linked to a food handler

In July 1981, an outbreak of gastroenteritis occurred at a summer diet camp. Of the 455 campers and staff, 35 per cent developed an illness characterized by abdominal pain, fever, diarrhea, and/or nausea and vomiting. A total of 53 per cent experienced abdominal pain. Seven persons were hospitalized...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:American journal of public health (1971) 1984-06, Vol.74 (6), p.589-592
Main Authors: Morse, D L, Shayegani, M, Gallo, R J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Camping
Child
Disease Outbreaks - epidemiology
Female
Food Handling
Food Microbiology
Gastroenteritis - epidemiology
Gastroenteritis - microbiology
Gastroenteritis - transmission
Humans
Male
New York
Yersinia enterocolitica - isolation & purification
Yersinia Infections - epidemiology
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Summary:In July 1981, an outbreak of gastroenteritis occurred at a summer diet camp. Of the 455 campers and staff, 35 per cent developed an illness characterized by abdominal pain, fever, diarrhea, and/or nausea and vomiting. A total of 53 per cent experienced abdominal pain. Seven persons were hospitalized, five of whom had appendectomies. Yersinia enterocolitica serogroup 0:8 was isolated from 37 (54 per cent) of 69 persons examined, including the camp cook and three assistants. An epidemiologic investigation demonstrated that illness was associated with consumption of reconstituted powdered milk and/or chow mein . Y. enterocolitica serogroup 0:8 was subsequently isolated from milk, the milk dispenser, and leftover chow mein . Information obtained during the investigation suggested that the Yersinia had been introduced by a food handler during food-processing procedures.
ISSN:0090-0036
1541-0048
DOI:10.2105/AJPH.74.6.589