Vero cytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli O157 gastroenteritis in farm visitors, North Wales.
An outbreak of Vero cytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli O157 (VTEC O157) gastroenteritis in visitors to an open farm in North Wales resulted in 17 primary and 7 secondary cases of illness. E. coli O157 Vero cytotoxin type 2, phage type 2 was isolated from 23 human cases and environmental animal fecal samples. A case-control study of 16 primary case-patients and 36 controls (all children) showed a significant association with attendance on the 2nd day of a festival, eating ice cream or cotton candy (candy floss), and contact with cows or goats. On multivariable analysis, only the association between illness and ice cream (odds ratio [OR]=11.99, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04 to 137.76) and cotton candy (OR=51.90, 95% CI 2.77 to 970.67) remained significant. In addition to supervised handwashing, we recommend that foods on open farms only be eaten in dedicated clean areas and that sticky foods be discouraged.
Payne
Christopher J I
CJ
Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre (Wales), Cardiff, Wales. chris_payne@btinternet.com
Petrovic
Marko
M
Roberts
Richard J
RJ
Paul
Ashish
A
Linnane
Eithne
E
Walker
Mark
M
Kirby
David
D
Burgess
Anthony
A
Smith
Robert M M
RM
Cheasty
Thomas
T
Willshaw
Geraldine
G
Salmon
Roland L
RL
D000328:Adult; D000383:Agriculture; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003140:Communicable Disease Control; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019453:Escherichia coli O157 / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005516:Food Microbiology; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D006463:Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D022603:Shiga Toxins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D014852:Wales / Q000453:epidemiology
D022603:Shiga Toxins