Revista de la Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud (Mar 2011)
Outbreack of salmonellosis after family party at locality of Puente Aranda, Bogota DC, Colombia
Abstract
Background: Foodborne Diseases (FBD) outbreaks occur every day worldwide, being salmonellosis their most common cause. On the epidemiologic week 44-2010, “Hospital del Sur ESE” received a notification on a FBD during a familiy gathering in a house of the Puente Aranda locality (Bogota – Colombia) and executed an outbreak investigation to enforce control actions and to offer indications. Methods: Descriptive outbreak confirmation study of a probable FBD by Salmonella according to the symptoms and case definition. A house visit, exposed epidemiologic inquiry and stool cultures. Data were included and analysed with Epi-Info 3.5.1® using absolute, relative, central trend and dispersion measurements. Results: Of 28 people, 27 (96%) ate the suspicious food – chicken rice; 2 (7,4%) were hospitalized, 8 (29,8%) needed attention at urgency ward. Attack rate was 59,3% for women, 40,4% for men; the most affected people by age was 1-4 year (18,8%); incubation period was 9 to 30 hours; all exposed suffered vomit, diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea and headaches; three stool samples were positive for Salmonella spp. Conclusions: A FBD by Salmonella spp. was confirmed; main source was –possibly- poor food manipulation and conservation. It is necessary to intensify information-education-communication actions related to food preparation, consumption and preservation.
