A milk-borne outbreak of food poisoning due to Salmonella heidelberg

Abstract

A milk-borne outbreak of Salm. heidelberg infection due to unpasteurized milk from tuberculin-tested cows is described. There were 77 cases and 46 symptomless excreters of the organism. There were no deaths. The infection was traced to a cow with a symptomless salmonella mastitis and the origin of the organism was thought to be contaminated animal feeding stuffs.We are indebted to Dr Joan Taylor, Colindale, for the identification of the salmonella serotypes; to Dr H. R. Cayton, Bristol, for assistance in the examination of animal feeding stuffs; to Dr E. N. Davey, Gloucester, for permission to include his results of milk examinations; and to the following public health inspectors who assisted in the field investigation—Mr A. Furniss, Mr G. Baillie and Mr M. V. Smith, Cirencester Urban District; Mr H. Wheeler and Mr R. Hayward, Cirencester Rural District; Mr P. Hayter, Bristol; and Mr D. S. Smith, Trowbridge.