Abstract

CARRERA VARA, José Antonio; MARQUEZ RODRIGUEZ, Humberto; CASTRO DOMINGUEZ, Arnaldo  and  MITIDIERI JORGE, Danilo. Análisis de las enfermedades trasmitidas por alimentos, 1980-1998. Rev Cubana Hig Epidemiol [online]. 2000, vol.38, n.3, pp. 167-174. ISSN 1561-3003.

The behaviour of the epidemic outbreaks of food-borne diseases, in Pinar del Rio province in the last 18 years was analyzed and evaluated. The number of outbreaks and the total of people affected in the different years as well as the municipalities where they took place were checked. The main food involved, the causal agents producing these diseases, places of occurrence and the factors that have contributed to the appearence of these outbreaks were also identified. All the information was obtained through the epidemiological surveillance of food-borne diseases, which was established in the decade of the 70' s. In Cuba the report and study of food-borne diseases outbreaks is compulsory. Is was determined that the staphylococcus aureus was the causal agent more frequent in the outbreaks, though in the last years, other pathogens such as Salmomella, E. Coli and Shigella have increased. The prolonged time between food preparation and their consumption is the most important factor as a cause of these diseases in the country.

Keywords : EPIDEMIOLOGIC SURVEILLANCE; FOOD MICROBIOLOGY; SALMONELLA INFECTIONS.