Foodborne disease outbreak in a public school in El Salvador

Abstract

Introduction. Foodborne diseases represent an increasing public health problem. It is estimated that globally around 600 million people get sick from consuming contaminated food. In El Salvador, 129 food poisoning cases were reported during 2023. Objective. Determine the causes of a foodborne illness outbreak in a public school in the municipality of Nahuizalco, department of Sonsonate. Methodology. A case-control study was conducted with a 2:1 ratio in an outbreak of 205 students from a public school in El Salvador. Measures of frequency, distribution and association were used such as Odds Ratios (OR) with their respective statistical significance. Nasopharyngeal and nail bed swabs were collected from food handlers. Results. Sixty four cases were identified, predominantly female (58 %). The most frequent symptom was abdominal pain (77 %) and the majority of cases were mild with outpatient management (67 %). Statistically, consumption of cereal with milk showed a significant association with illness with an Odds Ratio of 19, 67 (IC 95 %: 6.78 – 57.10). Conclusion. The associated cause with the outbreak was the ingestion of cereal with milk prepared by the school's food handlers. Due to the delay in notification of the outbreak to the health system, identification of the causal agent was not possible.