OUTBREAK OF LISTERIOSIS IN FRANCE, 1992

Based on a surveillance system settled for more than 6 years, 279 case s caused by the same strain (serovar 4b, phagovar 2389/2425/3274/2671/ 47/108/340) were detected (92 pregnant women and neonates; 182 adults and 5 children, out of 61 % were immunosupressed) between March and De cember Theses cases were spread over 79 of the departments of metropol itan France. Extensive epidemiological investigations were carried out in order to identify the foods at the origin of this epidemic, includ ing case control-study as well as analysis of food samples from variou s origins. Results implicated pork tongue in aspic as the major vehicu le of infection.