[Salmonellosis in 1997]

The gradual decline of number salmonellosis cases has observed since 1988. In 1997, 23,206 cases of salmonellosis were reported to the sanitary epidemiological stations in the whole country. Incidence rate was 60 per 100,000 inhabitants and was lower than 1996 and median 1991-1995 rates. Most of cases (19,611) was confirmed by isolation of Salmonella strains. The prevalent serotypes distributed at least in 30 of 49 voivodships, were: S. enteritidis (90% of all cases), S. typhimurium --3%, S. infantis--1.3%, S. virchow--1.2% and S. hadar--1%. Rates were highest in children aged under five years. The most serious clinical syndromes and complications were seen in the 49 oldest patients above 50 years old (septicaemia, meningitis, arthritis, osteomyelitis and abscesses). Five of them had died.