摘要：An outbreak of salmonellosis occurred followingattendance at a school camp between 5 and8 August 2014 in a remote area of the NorthernTerritory, Australia. We conducted a retrospectivecohort study via telephone interviews, using astructured questionnaire that recorded symptomsand exposures to foods and activities duringthe camp. A case was anyone with laboratoryconfirmed Salmonella Saintpaul infection or aclinically compatible illness after attending thecamp. Environmental health officers from theEnvironmental Health Branch undertook an investigationand collected water and environmentalsamples. We interviewed 65 (97%) of the 67 peoplewho attended the camp. There were 60 studentsand 7 adults. Of the 65 people interviewed,30 became ill (attack rate 46%); all were students;and 4 had laboratory confirmed S. Saintpaulinfection. The most commonly reported symptomswere diarrhoea (100% 30/30), abdominal pain(93% 28/30), nausea (93% 28/30) and fever (70%21/30). Thirteen people sought medical attentionbut none required hospitalisation. Illness was significantlyassociated with drinking cordial at lunchon 7 August (RR 3.8, 95% CI 1.3–11, P < 0.01),as well as drinking cordial at lunch on 8 August(RR 2.1, 95% CI 1.1–4.2, P=0.01). Salmonellaspp. was not detected in water samples or wallabyfaeces collected from the camp ground. The epidemiologicalinvestigation suggests the outbreakwas caused by environmental contamination offood or drink and could have occurred during icepreparation or storage, preparation of the cordialor from inadequate sanitising of the cooler fromwhich the cordial was served. This outbreak highlightsthe risks of food or drink contamination withenvironmental Salmonella. Those preparing foodand drink in campground settings should be vigilantwith cleaning, handwashing and disinfection toprevent outbreaks of foodborne disease.
