Foodborne outbreak of cryptosporidiosis--Spokane, Washington, 1997.
On December 29, 1997, the Spokane Regional Health District received reports of acute gastroenteritis among members of a group attending a dinner banquet catered by a Spokane restaurant on December 18. The illness was characterized by a prolonged (3-9 days) incubation period and diarrhea, which led public health officials to suspect a parasitic cause of the illness. Eight of 10 stool specimens obtained from ill banquet attendees were positive for Cryptosporidium using both modified acid-fast and auramine-rhodamine staining of concentrated specimens. This report summarizes the epidemiologic investigation of the outbreak, which suggests that foodborne transmission occurred through a contaminated ingredient in multiple menu items.
D000818:Animals; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D003458:Cryptosporidium / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D014861:Washington / Q000453:epidemiology