An outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium linked to a kebab takeaway shop

This paper describes the public health investigation and response to a Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak in June 2010 in the Central Coast of New South Wales. Two complaints from people with acute gastrointestinal illness pointed to food from a kebab takeaway shop as the cause of their illness. Liaison between public health and food authorities ensured timely epidemiological and environmental investigations leading to prompt identification and elimination of the point source. A case series investigation identified 45 outbreak cases including 31 laboratory-confirmed and 14 epidemiologically-linked cases. The food vehicles identified were hommus and tabouli--93% of cases reported having one or both items in their kebab. S. Typhimurium with the same MLVA type was found in stool specimens from outbreak cases and in food (including hommus and tabouli) and environmental samples collected at the kebab takeaway shop. Education of commercial food handlers, reduction of poultry meat contamination and collaboration between public health and food authorities to ensure prompt identification and control of outbreaks are important strategies to reduce Salmonella related illness.