title: Analysis of outbreaks of infectious intestinal disease in Ireland: 1998 and 1999.
abstract: Surveillance of general outbreaks of infectious gastroenteritis was introduced in 1998 by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI), in co-operation with the eight health boards. A total of 67 general outbreaks of gastroenteritis in Ireland were reported to the FSAI in 1998 and 1999. Over 1900 people were ill as a result of these outbreaks. Four percent required hospitalisation and there were two deaths. The duration of the outbreaks varied between one day and 38 days. Salmonellae (44%) and small round structured viruses (SRSV) (12%) were the most commonly reported pathogens. In 25% of the outbreaks the aetiology was unknown. The commonest settings were restaurants, hotels and take-aways, which accounted for 45% (30/67) of all outbreaks. Sixteen percent of all outbreaks occurred in hospitals and residential institutions. Over half of the outbreaks were reported to be foodborne, 63% of which were due to various serotypes of Salmonella enterica. Eggs were implicated as the vehicle of infection in 13% of all outbreaks. An infected food handler was identified in almost one third of outbreaks, although it could not be established if this had contributed directly to the outbreak.
authors.affiliation: Food Safety Authority of Ireland, Dublin.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bonner
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Foley
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wall
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fitzgerald
mesh_terms: D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005502:Food; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012478:Salmonella Food Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology; D012621:Seasons