Minnesota Salmonella Outbreak Study Rates Factors in Detecting Outbreaks
Minnesota Salmonella Clusters investigated by the Minnesota Department of Health are solved as confirmed outbreaks more than 12 percent of the time -- a pattern that resulted in 43 confirmed outbreaks among 344 clusters studied from 2001-2007.
The results, determined in a study published last week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, concludes that public health officials should not wait to investigate Salmonella clusters if a cluster of more than 4 reported cases has been received. The study also found that the chances of solving outbreaks is greater when clusters are dense: At least 3 case isolates received within 7 days.Specifically, during 2001–2007, a total of 43 of 344 clusters were solved by Minnesota health officials. Clusters of more than four isolates were more likely to be solved than clusters of 2 isolates. Clusters in which the first 3 case isolates were received at the Minnesota Department of Health within 7 days were more likely to be solved than were clusters in which the first 3 case isolates were received over a period of more than 14 days The first step in the investigations is to call infected people and run them through a detailed exposure questionnaire. Researchers compare answers looking for common exposures in order to arrive as suspect causes.
"These results establish a benchmark for surveillance of Salmonella infections, and may provide a basis for investigating clusters of Salmonella cases for public health agencies with limited resources,'' the study said. The four authors, led by Joshua Rounds, are affiliated with the Minnesota Department of Health and the University of Minnesota School of Public Health.
According to the research, the 6 most common Salmonella types in Minnesota during the study period were Typhimurium (25%); Enteritidis (20.5%); Newport (7.8%); Heidelberg (5.6%); Montevideo (3.0%); and Saintpaul (2.0%). The median number of Salmonella clusters per year was 50 and the median number of confirmed Salmonella outbreaks per year was 6.
Salmonellosis is a major foodborne illness that results in 1.4 million infections, 15,000 hospitalizations, and 400 deaths each year in the United States. Salmonella infections are primarily of foodborne origin but can also occur through contact with infected animals, humans, or their feces.
Food safety law firm PritzkerOlsen, P.A., represents Salmonella victims in personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits to help them achieve financial compensation for pain and suffering, medical expenses and other harms. You may reach a Salmonella attorney at our firm by dialing 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free) or by completing the free consultation form on the side of this Web page. PritzkerOlsen is one of the few law firms in the country practicing extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation and we have recovered millions for victims of food poisoning.
