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Cause:
Bacteria in the genus Campylobacter, most commonly C. jejuni.
Illness and treatment:
Symptoms include diarrhea, sometimes containing blood, abdominal pain,
fatigue, fever, and vomiting. Most persons will recover without treatment; however serious complications can occur.
Sources:
Animals such as cattle, puppies, kittens, swine, sheep, rodents and birds are the reservoir.
Contamination of raw poultry meat is very common. Exposure may also be through direct animal contact.
Additional risks:
Those with weakened immune systems are at increased risk for infection.
Prevention:
Avoid eating undercooked poultry and unpasteurized dairy
products. Thoroughly clean cutting boards and counters used
for raw meat or poultry to prevent contamination of other
foods. Wash hands after handling animals, bird feces, or raw meat, particularly poultry.
Recent Washington trends:
Campylobacteriosis is the most commonly reported enteric
illness in Washington with 1,000 to 1,300 reports each year.
Outbreaks involving multiple persons and person-to-person
spread are relatively uncommon. Infections are reported most
commonly in children and during the summer months.
2010:
Cases reported in 2010 increased 30% over recent years (five-year average 1,031 cases/year.) In
2010, 1,315 cases were reported (19.5 cases/100,000 population) with 142 hospitalizations and 2
deaths. This is the highest rate since the 1990s when rates were running as high or higher. There
were no common source outbreaks reported.
Purpose of Reporting and Surveillance
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To determine if there is a source of infection of public health concern
(e.g., a commercial raw milk dairy or public water supply) and to stop
transmission from such a source.
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When the source of infection appears to pose a risk to only a few individuals
(e.g., a puppy with diarrhea or a private water supply), to inform those
individuals how to reduce their risk of exposure.
Legal Reporting Requirements
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Health care providers:
notifiable to local health jurisdiction within 3 business days
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Health care facilities:
notifiable to local health jurisdiction within 3 business days
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Laboratories:
Campylobacter
species notifiable to local health jurisdiction within 2 business days; specimen
submission is on request only
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Local health jurisdictions:
notifiable to the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) Communicable
Disease Epidemiology (CDE) within 7 days of case investigation completion
or summary information required within 21 days.
Last update
December 2011 |
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