File: 970805_DOC_213_FOODBORNE_ILLNESS_01.txt
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THIS DOCUMENT MAY BE RELEASED IN ENTIRETY
DECLASSIFIED BY: CHARLES B. GREEN, CCL, USAF, MC, CFS
DECLASSIFIED ON: 2 JULY 1997
9?
ACTION OFFICER: JOHN P BURDISH III, LTC, SP -)

FOODBORNE LLNESS DUT3REA~S

AOR experience (August 90 - Feb 91). There were 12 foodborne
illness (FBI) outbreaks in the theater; 4 of these were from Jeddah.
Approximately 2,500 personnel were involved. The meal types
consisted of hot meals prepared in dining halls, meals catered to
dining halls and boxed lunches. None involved MREs.

2. Jeddah. There were four Jeddah outbreaks.

a. August 1990. There were 70 cases, most of which were
thought to be FBI. Some may have been viral syndrome. The
suspected foodborne illness was associated with one hotel. Source
not isolated (FS didn't have a clue). Outbreak ended and suspect
hotel was not used thereafter.

b. December 1990. There were 23 cases. Vanilla pudding filled
cake from Choice Catering was identified as the source. Staph
aureus bacteria and Staph enterotoxin was isolated. Bacillus cereus
was also isolated.

C. January 1991. This outbreak involved 648 cases. The source
was boxed lunches from Choice Catering. The implicated food source
is the smoked veal sandwich. The organism was not positively
iden~ified, but was probably Clostridium perfringens. The base
stopped using boxed lunches. However, Choice Catering continued to
Prepare/cater hot meals at dining facilities.

d. February 1991. This outbreak involved 59 cases, of which 14
were admitted. The source was probably baked turkey catered by
Saudia (a state-of-the-art) caterer. Saudia identified complacency
in one of their middle level managers which led to sanitation
problems. Corrective action by Saudia included removing the manager
from military operations. Bacteriology yielded Salmonella
enteriditis type 0 in samples submitted. The impressions of EH are
that a lot of different caterers/contractors are involved (political
issue). Some of these caterers/contractors do not adhere to the
same sanitation guidelines that our immune systems have come to
expect. Local officials did not have the control necessary to make
change, ie choose/approve their own caterers. Although considered,
the local environmental health personnel do not believe covert
contamination is occurring because all incidents can be explained
and in some cases predicted. They admit they've had more than their
share. Another outbreak is anticipated. They have a new
contractor/caterer (Saudi, not Saudia) selected by a local prince.
All environmental health inspections have rated them unsatisfactory
for the last 5 weeks. ~ealth reports are routed through local SG to
the Battlestaff (Wing CC is not always at battlestaff) . The new
caterer lacks basic knowledge or ~ood serv%ce sanitation and
hygiene.