Cholera Outbreak Linked to Seafood Salad
1999

Cholera Outbreak Linked to Seafood Salad

Sample size: 454 publication Evidence: high

Author Information

Author(s): Luca Cavalieri dOro, Elisabetta Merlo, Eugenio Ariano, Maria Grazia Silvestri, Antonio Ceraminiello, Eva Negri, Carlo La Vecchia

Primary Institution: Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri

Hypothesis

Is there a link between the seafood salad consumed and the cholera outbreak?

Conclusion

The cholera outbreak was linked to a seafood salad consumed by multiple individuals.

Supporting Evidence

  • 37% of those who ate the seafood salad had gastrointestinal symptoms.
  • Only 0.3% of those who did not eat the salad had symptoms.
  • The odds ratio for developing symptoms after eating the salad was 233.

Takeaway

Eating a seafood salad made people sick with cholera, and many who ate it had diarrhea.

Methodology

An epidemiologic case-control investigation was performed involving 454 persons.

Limitations

The tracking of food products was difficult, and the delay in coprocultures may have affected results.

Participant Demographics

Participants included 94 who ate the seafood salad and 360 controls.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.05

Confidence Interval

95% confidence interval, 97 to 560

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Want to read the original?

Access the complete publication on the publisher's website

View Original Publication