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An international outbreak of Salmonella enteritidis associated with lasagne; lessons on the need for cross-national co-operation in investigating food-borne outbreaks

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 1999

G. NYLEN ,
H. M. P. FIELDER  and
S. R. PALMER
G. NYLEN
Affiliation:
PHLS, Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre Wales, Abton House, Wedal Road, Roath, Cardiff CF4 3QX, UK EPIET (European Programme for Intervention Epidemiology Training)
H. M. P. FIELDER
Affiliation:
PHLS, Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre Wales, Abton House, Wedal Road, Roath, Cardiff CF4 3QX, UK
S. R. PALMER
Affiliation:
PHLS, Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre Wales, Abton House, Wedal Road, Roath, Cardiff CF4 3QX, UK
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Abstract

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We investigated an outbreak of Salmonella enteritidis involving at least 19 British tourists returning from one hotel in another European country. A retrospective cohort study of 47 hotel guests identified lasagne as the most likely vehicle of transmission (RR 11·5; 95% CI 3·0–44·1; P<0·0001). However, difficulties in information exchange and lack of formal mechanisms to agree on the aims of the cross-national investigation hampered efficient management of the outbreak. The factors leading to contamination of the food vehicle were not identified and therefore specific action to prevent reoccurrence could not be taken. There is need to develop protocols for cross-national investigations of outbreaks in Europe which should include specifying objectives, roles and responsibilities of investigators and control agencies, with formal reporting of the outcome of the investigation.

Type
Research Article
Information
Epidemiology & Infection , Volume 123 , Issue 1 , August 1999 , pp. 31 - 35
Copyright
© 1999 Cambridge University Press