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Original ArticleOpen Access
Food Poisoning Outbreak from Contaminate Fish-Balls
Thannaphornpilas P 
,
Datapon D ,
Sutantayawalee S
,
Datapon D ,
Sutantayawalee S On February 9'h, 1998, a food poisoning outbreak occurred at a boarding school for under-
privileged students. An unmatched case-control study was done. An environmental survey, labo-
ratory study of rectal swab culture, fish-balls, water and the cooking utensils were also performed.
There were 132 suspect cases, of which the attack rate in teachers was 9.8 per cent (4/41), 16.7
per cent (1/6) in the food handlers and 15.7 per cent (127/810) in the students. The median incu-
bation period was 18 hours. Analysis of food consumption revealed those who ate lunch noodles
had the highest risk (OR 3.8, 95% CI 0.6 -25.9). In details of food components, those who ate
fish-balls in curry had the only significant risk (OR 3.5, 95% CI 1.2 -1 0.8) of becoming
ill
when
compared to those who did not. Fish-balls in noodles and curry had a dose response relationship.
Bacterial culture from 25 grams of fish-balls was positive for
Vibrio parahaemolyticus.
The
fish-balls in noodles and curry were identified as the implicated food. The modes of contamina-
tion were uncooked food, cooking utensils and the food handlers. The manufacturer, which had
no license to operate and had poor standards of sanitation, was closed by the Food and Drug
Administration.
Key word : Food Poisoning,
Vibrio Parahaemolyticus,
Thailand
privileged students. An unmatched case-control study was done. An environmental survey, labo-
ratory study of rectal swab culture, fish-balls, water and the cooking utensils were also performed.
There were 132 suspect cases, of which the attack rate in teachers was 9.8 per cent (4/41), 16.7
per cent (1/6) in the food handlers and 15.7 per cent (127/810) in the students. The median incu-
bation period was 18 hours. Analysis of food consumption revealed those who ate lunch noodles
had the highest risk (OR 3.8, 95% CI 0.6 -25.9). In details of food components, those who ate
fish-balls in curry had the only significant risk (OR 3.5, 95% CI 1.2 -1 0.8) of becoming
ill
when
compared to those who did not. Fish-balls in noodles and curry had a dose response relationship.
Bacterial culture from 25 grams of fish-balls was positive for
Vibrio parahaemolyticus.
The
fish-balls in noodles and curry were identified as the implicated food. The modes of contamina-
tion were uncooked food, cooking utensils and the food handlers. The manufacturer, which had
no license to operate and had poor standards of sanitation, was closed by the Food and Drug
Administration.
Key word : Food Poisoning,
Vibrio Parahaemolyticus,
Thailand
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