Milkborne general outbreaks of infectious intestinal disease, England and Wales, 1992–2000

• Published in: Epidemiology and infection Vol. 130; no. 3; pp. 461 - 468
• Main Authors: GILLESPIE, I. A., ADAK, G. K., O'BRIEN, S. J., BOLTON, F. J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.06.2003
• Subjects: Animals; Bacterial diseases; Bacterial diseases of the digestive system and abdomen; Bacterial Infections - epidemiology; Bacterial Infections - etiology; Bacterial Infections - microbiology; Biological and medical sciences; Campylobacter; Dairy cattle; Disease; Disease Outbreaks; E coli; England - epidemiology; Epidemics; Epidemiology; Escherichia coli; Escherichia coli O157; Food contamination & poisoning; Food Handling; Food Microbiology; Food safety; Gastrointestinal Diseases - epidemiology; Gastrointestinal Diseases - etiology; Gastrointestinal Diseases - microbiology; Health surveillance; Human bacterial diseases; Humans; Infections; Infectious diseases; Intestinal diseases; Laboratories; Medical sciences; Milk; Milk - microbiology; Milk - poisoning; Pathogens; Public health; Questionnaires; Seasons; Surveillance; Wales - epidemiology; England; United Kingdom; Great Britain; Europe; Wales; United Kingdom > UK; Infection; Human; Bacteriosis; Dairy product; Digestive diseases; Intestinal disease; Biological contamination; Epidemiology
• ISSN: 0950-2688; 1469-4409
• DOI: 10.1017/S0950268803008525

From 1 January 1992 to 31 December 2000, 27 milkborne general outbreaks of infectious intestinal disease (IID) were reported to the Public Health Laboratory Service (PHLS) Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre (CDSC). These outbreaks represented a fraction (2%) of all outbreaks of foodborne origin (N=1774) reported to CDSC, but were characterized by significant morbidity. Unpasteurized milk (52%) was the most commonly reported vehicle of infection in milkborne outbreaks, with milk sold as pasteurized accounting for the majority of the rest (37%). Salmonellas (37%), Vero cytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) O157 (33%) and campylobacters (26%) were the most commonly detected pathogens, and most outbreaks were linked to farms (67%). This report highlights the importance of VTEC O157 as a milkborne pathogen and the continued role of unpasteurized milk in human disease.