An Outbreak of Yersinia enterocolitica O:8 Infections Associated with Pasteurized Milk

In October 1995, an outbreak of Yersinia enterocolitica O:8 infections occurred in the Upper Valley of Vermont and New Hampshire. Ten patients were identified, median age 9 years (range, 6 months–44 years). Three patients were hospitalized; 1 underwent an appendectomy. Consumption of bottled pasteur...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of infectious diseases 2000-05, Vol.181 (5), p.1834-1837
Main Authors: Ackers, Marta-Louise, Schoenfeld, Susan, Markman, John, Smith, M. Geoffrey, Nicholson, Mabel A., DeWitt, Wallis, Cameron, Daniel N., Griffin, Patricia M., Slutsker, Laurence
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Animals
Animals, Domestic - microbiology
Bacterial diseases
Bacterial diseases of the digestive system and abdomen
Biological and medical sciences
Case-Control Studies
Child
Child, Preschool
Disease Outbreaks
Feces - microbiology
Female
Food industries
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Human bacterial diseases
Humans
Infant
Infectious diseases
Meat - microbiology
Medical sciences
Milk - microbiology
Milk and cheese industries. Ice creams
New Hampshire - epidemiology
outbreaks
pasteurized milk
Swine
USA, New Hampshire
USA, Vermont
Vermont - epidemiology
Water Microbiology
Water Supply
Yersinia enterocolitica
Yersinia enterocolitica - isolation & purification
Yersinia Infections - epidemiology
Yersinia Infections - etiology
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Summary:In October 1995, an outbreak of Yersinia enterocolitica O:8 infections occurred in the Upper Valley of Vermont and New Hampshire. Ten patients were identified, median age 9 years (range, 6 months–44 years). Three patients were hospitalized; 1 underwent an appendectomy. Consumption of bottled pasteurized milk from a local dairy was associated with illness (matched odds ratio undefined; lower 95% confidence interval, 1.9). No deficiencies in pasteurization procedures or equipment were detected. Y. enterocolitica O:8 was isolated from 1 raw-milk sample and from a fecal sample from 1 dairy pig. The route of contamination was not determined; this outbreak likely resulted from postpasteurization contamination of milk. Dairy pigs were the most likely source of contamination. Milk bottles were likely contaminated by rinsing with untreated well water prior to filling or by other environmental routes. Educating dairy owners about Y. enterocolitica and postpasteurization contamination is necessary to prevent further outbreaks.
ISSN:0022-1899
1537-6613
DOI:10.1086/315436