OUTBREAK OF FOOD BORNE ILLNESS MED GRP PROV PREVENT MED TEA

File: 092496_aug96_decls10_0002.txt
Page: 0002
Total Pages: 5

Subject: OUTBREAK OF FOOD BORNE ILLNESS  MED GRP PROV PREVENT MED TEA    

Unit: 22D SUPCOM  

Parent Organization: ARCENT      

Box ID: BX005154

Folder Title: PREVENTIVE MEDICINE-ENVIRONMENTAL THREAT-USAEHA                                                 

Document Number:         14

Folder SEQ  #:         71








                AFRD-MD-PMS (25 May 91)
                SUBJECT: Outbreak of Food-borne Illness

                      (1)  Seventeen personnel reported to sick call on 16 and 17
                      May; several others were noted to have symptoms but did not go
                      on sick call.   The unit normally eats at the catered unit
                      dining facility. It has no vehicles to leave the compound.

                      (2)  The food for the picnic arrived within 10 minutes from
                      the Pentagon.  Steaks were hold in a lined container until
                      grilled and salads were placed on ice.

                      (3)  Trained food service personnel were not monitoring the
                      food. Despite observations of the potato salad being warm, it
                      was still being consumed after 1730 hours.

                      (4)  Further investigation pointed to the unit wash water
                      system and low general sanitation as additional, possible
                      causes for the illnesses.

                      f. The four personnel from the 480th Military Police Company
                were not available for interviews. However, CPT Mendez, company
                Commander, reported they had the potato salad at the Pentagon
                Dining Facility on 15 May. These individuals had to go on sick
                call the following day (one was hospitalized for three days).

                      g. 1SG Grana, 225th Military Police Company, reported that 20
                personnel went on sick call on 17 May. All claimed to have eaten
                potato salad at the Pentagon Dining Facility (one person was
                hospitalized for four days).

                3. RECOMMENDATIONS:

                      a. The foodborne illness questionnaire (Encl 1) needs to be
                used by medical treatment personnel to acquire information for a
                prompt/timely investigation.

       b. Medical treatment personnel need to take stool samples on
                all suspected foodborne illness cases.

                      c. Personnel not trained in food service procedures must not
                prepare food.

                      d. Catering operations should not be preparing potato salad
                for parties.

                      0. Command emphasis needs to be placed on food service and
                organization personnel keeping food at proper temperatures. Units
                without trained food service personnel should request assistance
                prior to serving food at unit functions.

                      f. The Medical Group (Provisional) Preventive Medicine Team
                will provide a memorandum covering food service at unit functions.

Document 5 f:/Week-34/BX005154/PREVENTIVE MEDICINE-ENVIRONMENTAL THREAT-USAEHA/outbreak of food borne illness med grp prov pre:09209615581729
Control Fields 17
File Room = aug96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-34
Box ID = BX005154
Unit = 22D SUPCOM
Parent Organization = ARCENT
Folder Title = PREVENTIVE MEDICINE-ENVIRONMENTAL THREAT-USAEHA
Folder Seq # = 71
Subject = OUTBREAK OF FOOD BORNE ILLNESS MED GRP PROV PRE
Document Seq # = 29
Document Date =
Scan Date =
Queued for Declassification = 01-JAN-1980
Short Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Long Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Permanent Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Non-Health Related Document = 01-JAN-1980
Declassified = 20-SEP-1996