Outbreaks of gastroenteritis linked to lettuce, Denmark, January 2010

S Ethelberg; M Lisby; B Bottiger; A C Schultz; A Villif; T Jensen; K E Olsen; F Scheutz; C Kjelso; L Muller

Outbreaks of gastroenteritis linked to lettuce, Denmark, January 2010

Euro Surveill. 2010 Feb 11;15(6):19484.

Authors

S Ethelberg¹, M Lisby, B Bottiger, A C Schultz, A Villif, T Jensen, K E Olsen, F Scheutz, C Kjelso, L Muller

Affiliation

¹ Department of Epidemiology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark. set@ssi.dk

PMID: 20158982

Abstract

At least 11 linked outbreaks of gastroenteritis with a total of 260 cases have occurred in Denmark in mid January 2010. Investigations showed that the outbreaks were caused by norovirus of several genotypes and by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli. Lettuce of the lollo bionda type grown in France was found to be the vehicle.

MeSH terms

Denmark / epidemiology
Disease Outbreaks / statistics & numerical data
Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli*
Escherichia coli Infections / epidemiology*
Escherichia coli Infections / microbiology*
Female
Food Contamination / analysis
Food Contamination / statistics & numerical data*
Foodborne Diseases / epidemiology*
Foodborne Diseases / microbiology
Gastroenteritis / epidemiology*
Gastroenteritis / microbiology*
Humans
Incidence
Lactuca / microbiology*
Male
Risk Assessment / methods
Risk Factors