Outbreak of Typhoid Fever Connected with Corned Beef

Abstract

An outbreak of typhoid fever due to Salmonella typhi phage type A is described. Twenty-one or possibly 23 of the 26 affected persons had eaten corned beef purchased sliced from one shop. The others became infected through close contact with confirmed cases. Very extensive investigations did not reveal a carrier in either this or any other shop within the localized area of the outbreak. There is strong circumstantial evidence that the vehicle of infection was corned beef from one 6-lb. (2.7-kg.) tin contaminated before it was opened. © 1964, British Medical Journal Publishing Group. All rights reserved.