Outbreak of febrile gastroenteritis in a five-star hotel in Metro Manila

ABSTRACT

In September 1989, a national tabloid reported that over 70 persons became ill with gastroenteritis shortly after attending a banquet in a five star hotel in Metro Manila. An epidemiologic investigation was immediately conducted. Illness was defined as diarrhea (passage of watery stool three or more times in a day) or vomiting. A total of 54 (35% of the 150 guests) were interviewed; 38 (70%) became ill and 16 (30%) did not. Salmonella sp. was isolated from the stool of one of the hospitalized cases. Analysis of food specific attack rates implicated steamed lapu-lapu with mayonnaise as the most likely vehicle of transmission (p 0.01). An infected egg may have been used in the preparation of mayonnaise. We presented our findings to Hotel X and we advised them against the use of cracked eggs.