Salmonellosis outbreak among first grade schoolchildren, Hadera subdistrict

Objectives: This article describes an outbreak of salmonella food-borne infection in a school in Or-Akiva, Hadera Sub-district, and analyzes the lessons that can be learned from the episode. Design: Epidemiological study of the outbreak: A retrospective case control study. Results: Forty three of the 89 participants in a first grade party became ill with gastroenteritis. The epidemiological investigation identified the source of infection in a cream cake. The cake was bought from an unlicensed facility where it was prepared and stored at inappropriate temperatures. The odds ratio for illness associated with consuming the cake was highly significant O.R.=43.0 (95% C.I.=7.82-313.66). Two patients had stool cultures positive for Salmonella enterica (Group D Salmonella). Conclusion: In order to prevent outbreaks through transmission by fecal-oral route, food should be purchased from licensed sources and should be stored at appropriate temperatures until consumption.