American Journal of Epidemiology
Volume 135, Issue 12, 1992, Pages 1404-1410

A trichinosis outbreak among southeast asian refugees (Article)

Mcauley J.B.* , Michelson M.K. , Hightower A.W. , Engeran S. , Wintermeyer L.A. , Schantz P.M.
  • a Parasitic Diseases Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control, Public Health Service, US Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, GA, United States
  • b Parasitic Diseases Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control, Public Health Service, US Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, GA, United States
  • c Parasitic Diseases Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control, Public Health Service, US Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, GA, United States
  • d Parasitic Diseases Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control, Public Health Service, US Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, GA, United States
  • e Lowa Department of Public Health, Des Moines, IA, United States
  • f Parasitic Diseases Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control, Public Health Service, US Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, GA, United States

Abstract

The number of cases of trichinosis reported to Centers for Disease Control has declined steadily, with an average of only 44 cases per year from 1984 through 1988. This decline was almost entirely due to a reduction in cases acquired from ingestion of fresh commercial pork. However, from July 21 through September 3, 1990, 90 (72%) of 125 Southeast Asian refugees from six states and Canada developed trichinosis after attending or eating pork sausage taken from a wedding held in Des Moines, lowa, on July 14, 1990. Eating uncooked sausage prepared at home from commercially obtained pork was associated with the development of this illness (odds ratio = 34.0, p < 0.001). Analysis by amount of pork consumed was significant (Mann-Whitney U rank sum test, p < 0.001). This outbreak of trichinosis in lowa is the fourth reported within the last 15 years among the 900,000 Southeast Asian refugees resident in the United States and one of the largest reported outbreaks in US history. The continued presence of Trichinella spiralis in commercial pork emphasizes the need for further education and control measures for persons whose dietary habits place them at risk for developing trichinosis. Am J Epidemiol 1992; 135: 1404-10 © 1992 by The Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health.

Author Keywords

Trichinosis Trichinella Asian Americans

Index Keywords

Swine refugee Laos cooking human Refugees controlled study priority journal animal United States Adolescent Asian Americans male Southeast Asia female risk factor eating habit Disease Outbreaks Article epidemic major clinical study adult health education infection risk Case-Control Studies trichinosis meat food control trichinella spiralis Iowa Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0026737288&doi=10.1093%2foxfordjournals.aje.a116251&partnerID=40&md5=3e94fc4a5203b8dd4e975a6467570df6
DOI: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a116251
ISSN: 00029262
Cited by: 15
Original Language: English