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Outbreak of Salmonella Livingstone infection in Norway and Sweden due to contaminated processed fish products

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 November 2004

P. J. GUERIN
Affiliation:
Division of Infectious Disease Control, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway European Programme of Intervention Epidemiology Training (EPIET)
B. DE JONG
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology, Swedish Institute for Infectious Disease Control
E. HEIR
Affiliation:
Division of Infectious Disease Control, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
V. HASSELTVEDT
Affiliation:
Division of Infectious Disease Control, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
G. KAPPERUD
Affiliation:
Division of Infectious Disease Control, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway School of Veterinary Science, Oslo, Norway
K. STYRMO
Affiliation:
The Food Control Authorities in Eidsvoll, Hurdal and Nes, Norway
B. GONDROSEN
Affiliation:
Norwegian Food Control Authority
J. LASSEN
Affiliation:
Division of Infectious Disease Control, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
Y. ANDERSSON
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology, Swedish Institute for Infectious Disease Control
P. AAVITSLAND
Affiliation:
Division of Infectious Disease Control, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
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Abstract

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In Europe, the number of reported sporadic human cases of Salmonella Livingstone infection is low, and outbreaks are rare. We report the largest S. Livingstone outbreak described in the literature having an identified source of infection. In February 2001, an increased incidence of infection caused by S. Livingstone was observed in Norway and Sweden. By July 2001, 44 cases were notified in Norway and 16 in Sweden. The median age was 63 years, and 40 were women. There were three deaths, and 22 patients were hospitalized. Based on standardized questionnaires and retrospective studies of S. Livingstone strains in Norway and Sweden, food items with egg powder were suspected, and S. Livingstone was subsequently recovered from a processed fish product at the retail level. Analysis by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis documented that isolates from the fish product belonged to the same clone as the outbreak strain.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 2004 Cambridge University Press