Recent Trend of Salmonella Food Poisoning and Serovars

During 1993-1997, there had been in the Taiwan Area 19 incidents of Salmonella food poisoning. By places of infection, six incidents occurred in schools, six in restaurants and cafeterias, five at homes, one at a dinner party, and one imported. By geographic area, the northern and the southern areas had the most incidents, followed by the central area. The eastern area had only one incident. Salmonella of these incidents came in ten serovars. Six incidents were caused by Salmonella enteritides, involving 174 victims and accounting for 55.1% of all incidents. Three incidents were caused by S. Montevideo, involving 32 victims and accounting for 10.1%. Four incidents were caused by S. weltevreden or S. virchow, involving 28 and 9 victims. The rest six incidents was caused by S.java, S. emek, S.. regent, S.blockley, S.stanley and S. Stanley and S.typhimurium respectively, involving a total of 73 victims. The isolation rates of the causative pathogenic agents were 12.5-100%. From 1991 to 1997, Salmonella enteritidis had been isolated from patients in 141 cases of all sporadic diarrhea and outbreaks of Salmonella food poisoning. Before 1994, no Salmonella enteritidis food poisoning outbreaks had been reported, and the numher of S, ellteritidis isolated each year was less thal1 ten, The first S. enteritidis food poisoning outbreak occurred in 1995. Between 1996 and 1997, five more outbreaks had been reported, and the number of S. ellteritidis isolated had increased sharply. With the exception of February, S. ellteritidis was isolated in every month, particularly between July and October.