County officials have received reports of 90 cases of Campylobacteriosis during the period of January through June 2000. 1999 was a below average year for the number of reported cases in Stanislaus County and numbers in 2000 appear to be on the rise. There is typically an increase of reported cases of campylobacteriosis during the summer season.

According to Roselyn Cunningham, Communicable Disease Nurse for the Stanislaus County Health Services Agency, "Campylobacteriosis is an infection primarily caused when people eat undercooked food that contains the campylobacter bacteria. Chicken, turkey and raw milk are the main sources of campylobacter."

The infectious dose required to cause this foodborne disease may be very low; i.e. only a few hundred cells. Proper food handling including handwashing, thorough cooking of food and avoiding the cross-contamination of food is the primary means to avoid campylobacteriosis.

Cunningham notes that babies, young children and debilitated people are the most susceptible. Symptoms vary from mild with very little signs of illness even though campylobacter may be present in the stool, to severe with bloody diarrhea as the most characteristic symptom. Other symptoms are: fever, nausea, abdominal cramps and (seldom) vomiting. The duration of the illness is usually 1-4 days; sometimes up to ten days.

The illness is uncomfortable and even disabling for several days; but deaths are rare.

One-third to one-half of all chicken in stores has campylobacter organisms on it.

Important points to note:

• Improper food handling and under-cooking are the primary means of transmission
• Transmission is through food and is seldom transmitted from person-to-person
• Illness is not of the "outbreak" variety, but rather from specific food sources
• Treatment is ordinarily simple through the replacement of water and salts (hydration)
• Cook food thoroughly
• Avoid drinking raw milk
• Avoid cross-contaminating food. Don't use the same plate for uncooked food and the finished product. Do not reuse raw marinade on cooked food.
• Thorough handwashing when handling raw food

Interview opportunity on Friday with Roselyn Cunningham,

Stanislaus County Health Services Agency

Communicable Disease Nurse

Photo opportunities include laboratory testing

The Stanislaus County Health Services Agency (HSA) is an outpatient medical system with 9 medical offices located throughout Stanislaus County. The HSA operates the Public Health Department, an Urgent Care Center and multiple programs serving over 400,000 patients and clients each year in Stanislaus County. The HSA also is in local partnerships for the MOMobile project and the Stanislaus Family Practice Residency Program. The HSA has extensive community health information available at its web site www.schsa.org