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The role of outbreaks in developing food safety policy: population based surveillance of salmonella outbreaks in Wales 1986–98

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 March 2001

S. PALMER
Affiliation:
University of Wales College of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF4 4XN PHLS Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre (Welsh Unit), Abton House, Wedal Road, Roath, Cardiff CF4 3QX
S. PARRY
Affiliation:
University of Wales College of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF4 4XN
D. PERRY
Affiliation:
PHLS Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre (Welsh Unit), Abton House, Wedal Road, Roath, Cardiff CF4 3QX
R. SMITH
Affiliation:
PHLS Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre (Welsh Unit), Abton House, Wedal Road, Roath, Cardiff CF4 3QX
M. EVANS
Affiliation:
University of Wales College of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF4 4XN PHLS Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre (Welsh Unit), Abton House, Wedal Road, Roath, Cardiff CF4 3QX
L. NEHAUL
Affiliation:
Gwent Health Authority, Mamhilad House, Mamhilad Park Estate, Pontypool, Gwent
R. ROBERTS
Affiliation:
North Wales Health Authority, Preswylfa, Hendy Road, Mold, Flintshire
M. WALAPU
Affiliation:
Dyfed/Powys Health Authority, PO Box 13, Carmarthen SA31 3YH
D. WRIGHT
Affiliation:
Morgannwg Health Authority, 41 High Street, Swansea, West Glamorgan
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Abstract

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In developing public policy on food safety, systematic identification and thorough investigation of all general outbreaks is necessary in order to avoid bias towards highly publicised outbreaks. In Wales, from 1986 to 1998, 87 general foodborne outbreaks of salmonellosis were identified. Most outbreaks occurred at functions or were associated with small catering outlets such as bakeries and sandwich bars. In 50 outbreaks, a vehicle of infection was confirmed microbiologically and/or epidemiologically. The most common food vehicles were those containing shell eggs. Salmonella enteritidis outbreaks were significantly more likely than outbreaks of other serotypes to be associated with vehicles containing shell eggs, suggesting that eggs were also the source of infection in many outbreaks. The routine use of analytical epidemiological studies to identify vehicles in outbreaks is recommended.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
2000 Cambridge University Press