Epidemiology ofCampylobacter jejuniOutbreak in a Middle School in Incheon, Korea

Abstract

On July 6, 2009, an outbreak of gastroenteritis occurred among middle school students in Incheon. An investigation to identify the source and describe the extent of the outbreak was conducted. A retrospective cohort study among students, teachers, and food handlers exposed to canteen food in the middle school was performed. Using self-administered questionnaires, information was collected concerning on symptoms, days that canteen food was consumed, and food items consumed. Stool samples were collected from 66 patients and 11 food handlers. The catering kitchen was inspected and food samples were taken. Of the 791 people who ate canteen food, 92 cases became ill, representing an attack rate of 11.6%. Thirty-one (40.3%) of the 77 stool specimens were positive for Campylobacter jejuni. Interviews with kitchen staff indicated the likelihood that undercooked chicken was provided. This is the first recognized major C. jejuni outbreak associated with contaminated chicken documented in Korea.

Dietary Fatty Acids and Immune Response to Food-Borne Bacterial Infections

“…In addition to salmonellosis, poultry products are also known to be significant sources of human Campylobacter infections [36]. Campylobacter species including C. jejuni and C. coli are the most common bacterial causes of human gastroenteritis, with an estimate of more than 2 million cases per year in the US [37,38,39]. Medium-chain-length fatty acids (MCFAs) can mitigate Campylobacter in poultry.…”

Low Prevalence of Campylobacteriosis in the Northern Region of India

“…Yu et al [21] reported the first recognized major C. jejuni outbreak was associated with contaminated chicken among middle school students in Korea where an attack rate of 11.6% occurred with 40.3% stool samples positives for C. jejuni. Karagiannis et al [5] reported a C. jejuni outbreak in Crete in which most cases originated from rural areas and had a strong epidemiological evidence that tap water was the vehicle of the outbreak.…”

Isolation of <i>Campylobacters</i> from Intestinal Tract of Poultry in Northern Region of India

“…C. jejuni has been reported to be the most isolated species in chicken [1]. Yu et al [13] reported the first recognized major C. jejuni outbreak in a middle School in Incheon, associated with contaminated chicken in Korea where an attack rate of 11.6% occurred with 40.3% stool samples positive for C. jejuni. The authors state that the raw chickens used in the chicken soup with ginseng were supplied frozen (−6˚C) in the morning of July 1 by a company which was free of food hygiene violations.…”

“…The chickens had been slaughtered and processed on June 29 and were deemed acceptable for use until July 9 under refrigeration. Despite this, the chicken soup prepared and consumed on July 1, 2009 was considered to be the source of human infection [13]. Yano et al [14] monitored C. jejuni in four chicken farms during the period 2003 to 2006 to elucidate the mechanisms of transmission.…”