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THE PATTEEN of foodborne and waterborne disease outbreaks in 1958 did not differ greatly from that of the previous years (table 1). However, a closer inspection should be made of some aspects of the pattern. For instance, there is no convincing evidence that staphylococcal food poisoning and foodborne Salmonella infections are becoming less fre¬ quent. The decline in number of outbreaks and cases of staphylococcal food poisoning reported in 1958 and in 1957 compared with previous years is more likely to be due to failure in reporting than to a reduction in this type of illness (table 2). Two outbreaks involving cheese were among the reports received in 1958. In one outbreak cases occurred in two adjoining States receiving shipments of cheese processed in another State. Staphylococci were isolated from samples of the cheese obtained from the distributor and the factory. Furthermore, the organism was found in milk from, dairy herds supplying milk to the cheese factory. Some strains of staphylococci isolated from samples of milk were resistant to certain antibiotics. The second outbreak occurred in an institutional population that had been supplied with cheese manufactured in the same State. A review of reports received in past years shows that staphylococcal food poisoning as¬ sociated with fluid milk, dried milk, and cheese is not uncommon. It is also known that bovine mastitis caused by staphylococci is common. Furthermore, the indiscriminate use of some Both authors are with the National Office of Vital Statistics. Dr. Dauer is medical adviser to the chief, and Mr. Davids is health program repre¬ sentative. antibiotics in the treatment of mastitis has favored the development of strains of staphylo¬ cocci that are resistant to the antibiotics.

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