General outbreaks of infectious intestinal disease associated with milk and dairy products in England and Wales: 1992 to 1996.

Abstract

Twenty general outbreaks of food poisoning in England and Wales associated with the consumption of milk and dairy products were reported to the PHLS Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre between 1992 and 1996. A total of 600 people were ill and at least 45 people were admitted to hospital but no deaths were reported. Salmonella species were responsible for 11 outbreaks, Campylobacter species for five, Vero cytotoxin producing Escherichia coli O157 (VTEC) for three, and Cryptosporidium parvum for one. Outbreaks were associated with hotels (2 outbreaks), a psychogeriatric hospital, schools (3), a Royal Air Force base, a farm visit, an outdoor festival (2), and community outbreaks associated with milk supplied direct from farms (8). Milk was implicated in 16 outbreaks; 10 of which were associated with unpasteurised milk. Two outbreaks were associated with eating contaminated ice cream, and two with eating contaminated cheese. All these outbreaks could have been prevented by pasteurisation and simple hygienic measures.