Outbreak of trichinosis in France associated with eating horse meat.
The investigation of a trichinosis outbreak in Auvergne, France identified 23 cases in 12 households living in two cities-Clermont-Ferrand and Montluçon-between 15 February and 7 March 1991. One patient required intensive care, 15 had major symptoms, and seven had minor or no symptoms. Two case control studies demonstrated a significant (p < 0.01) association between eating horse meat and acute trichinosis. Veterinary services found that three supermarkets where the patients had bought horse meat during the suspected period had been supplied by a single wholesaler. The analysis of the wholesaler's records revealed that the implicated horse meat had been imported from a slaughterhouse in the United States. This outbreak occurred despite a requirement in France for all meat from horses slaughtered in France and in countries exporting meat to France to be examined systematically for trichinella.
Laurichesse
H
H
Hôtel-Dieu, University Hospital of Clermont-Ferrand, France.
Cambon
M
M
Perre
D
D
Ancelle
T
T
Mora
M
M
Hubert
B
B
Beytout
J
J
Rey
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D005513:Food Inspection; D005602:France; D006736:Horses; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat / Q000469:parasitology*; D014235:Trichinellosis / Q000209:etiology*