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Foodborne Disease Outbreak Associated with Eating Gaajar Halwa at a Wedding – Palghar District, Maharashtra, India, 2018
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1 2021
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Source: Indian J Public Health. 65(Suppl):S10-S13
[PDF-410.75 KB]
Details:
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Alternative Title:Indian J Public Health
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Personal Author:
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Description:Background:
A foodborne disease outbreak among wedding attendees from Makunsar village, Palghar district, Maharashtra state, India, was reported on February 18, 2018.
Objectives:
The outbreak investigation was conducted to find out the epidemiology of the outbreak and to identify the etiologic agent and risk factors.
Methods:
A case–control study was carried out, where cases (patients), controls, and food handlers were interviewed and leftover foods were collected for culture. A case was defined as a person having vomiting or diarrhea (i.e., ≥3 loose stools within 24 h) who attended the wedding ceremony at Makunsar village, Palghar district, Maharashtra, on February 18, 2018. Attack rate and odds ratio (OR) were calculated with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
Results:
Out of 75 cases, 63% were female. Altogether, forty-two (56%) cases were hospitalized, and later on, all of them were discharged from hospital without any mortality. About 93%, 68%, 43%, and 41% of the cases reported with vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea, respectively. The median incubation period was found to be 4 h (range: 2–8 h). Eating gaajar halwa (carrot pudding) was significantly associated with illness (OR: 12.8; 95% CI: 3.5–46). Gaajar halwa is prepared with khoa, a perishable milk product. The gaajar halwa culture yielded no growth.
Conclusion:
The case-patients’ clinical presentation and incubation period were consistent with enterotoxin-producing Staphylococcus aureus as the probable etiologic agent. The epidemiologic investigation identified the probable etiologic agent and food source in a low-resource community setting. Community food handlers were educated on food preparation hygiene and safe storage measures to prevent future outbreaks.
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Pubmed ID:33753585
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Pubmed Central ID:PMC10372468
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Volume:65
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