Contaminated roof-collected water as a possible cause of an outbreak of salmonellosis

Roof-collected rainwater is a common source in subtropical regions and has not been associated with human illness. In Trinidad, the West Indies, a church group attending a rural camp, developed gastrointestional illness, caused by Salmonella arechevalata. This rare serotype was isolated from stool specimens of campers, food eaten at the camp, and a water tap, which was supplied by a storage tank of roof collected rainwater. The surface of the roof, used as water catchment, was covered with bird faeces. It is postulated that rainwater, falling on the roof, washed off animal excrement which contained S. archevalata and led to the outbreak of salmonellosis through camper ingestion of contaminated food and water.(Summary)

An island-wide epidemic of salmonellosis in Trinidad traced to contaminated powdered milk

Between March 1 and November 30, 1973, an epidemic of salmonella derby gastroenteritis occurred in Trinidad. Approximately 3,000 people were affected. Cases occurred throughout the island roughly in proportion to the population, but most were in infants and small children. Household surveys of cases and a sample survey of controls indicated that the consumption of powdered milk was significantly associated with illness. Further studies showed that 7 different brands of imported powdered milk packaged at a single processing plant near Port-of-Spain were, as a group, significantly associated with salmonellosis. Investigations at the implicated processing plant disclosed several packaging procedures that could have permitted contamination during canning, but the specific mode of contamination could be demonstrated (AU)