Outbreak of suspected trichinosis among travelers returning from a neighboring island.
BACKGROUND
An outbreak of trichinosis involving a cohort of 33 returning travelers from a resort island in a neighboring country was suspected, beginning with 2 initial cases who were hospitalized with a syndrome of fever, myalgia and eosinophilia.


METHODS
At the initial visit, a full history was obtained and a physical examination was performed for each individual. Also, blood was drawn for full blood count, blood film for malaria parasites and Trichinella serology. Extensive epidemiological investigations identified a total of 84 returning travelers from 6 separate groups, of which 58 (69%) were subjected to a detailed interview, including the kinds of meat consumed on the island.


RESULTS
Twenty-five of these 33 persons (75.7 %) fulfilled clinical or serological case definition criteria for trichinosis. IgG antibody for Trichinella spiralis was detected in 8 out of 32 persons who had the test done (25%). Symptoms were generally mild, with only one patient (3%) requiring steroids for prolonged myositis.


CONCLUSIONS
We suspect this outbreak to be due to trichinosis although the source could not be identified. Extensive epidemiological investigations identified a total of 84 returning travelers from 6 separate groups, of which 58 (69%) were subjected to a detailed interview, including the kinds of meat consumed on the island, but the source of the outbreak could not be identified.
Kurup
A
A
Department of Internal Medicine, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
Yew
W S
WS
San
L M
LM
Ang
B
B
Lim
S
S
Tai
G K
GK
D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000097:blood; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology; D014195:Travel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017160:Trichinella spiralis / Q000276:immunology*; D014235:Trichinellosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control
D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D007074:Immunoglobulin G