AN OUTBREAK OF FOODBORNE STREPTOCOCCAL THROAT INFECTION

Streptococcal pharyngitis is a common disease of epidemic nature, usua lly transmitted by saliva droplets. We present an epidemiologic analys is of an outbreak of streplococcal pharyngitis in a military unit invo lving 75 soldiers. The causing organism was Streptococcus pyogenes (gr oup A beta hemolytic Streptococcus, T28 M56), which was isolated from 53 affected individuals. The source of the epidemic was probably an ar my cook. The infection was transferred by a cabbage salad to individua ls who became symptomatic within 24-48 h. This epidemic is a reminder of an exceptional route of streptococcal dissemination and one of the largest outbreaks of foodborne streptococcal pharyngitis documented.