An outbreak of Campylobacter jejuni enteritis associated with failed milk pasteurisation

This paper describes an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness affecting at least 110 people, of whom 41 had microbiological confirmation of Campylobacter jejuni infection. The outbreak of infection was found to have been associated with the consumption of inadequately pasteurised milk from a local dairy. The problem of enforcement of food and safety regulations when milk from dairies fails the phosphatase test is discussed. The prevalence of seroconversion to campylobacter in the community is estimated from a sample of cases and controls involved in this outbreak.