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. 2019 Jun;24(24):1900368.
doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2019.24.24.1900368.

Cross-border outbreak of Yersinia enterocolitica O3 associated with imported fresh spinach, Sweden and Denmark, March 2019

Laura Espenhain  1   2 , Maximilian Riess  2   3   4 , Luise Müller  1 , Soledad Colombe  3   5 , Steen Ethelberg  1   6 , Eva Litrup  1 , Cecilia Jernberg  3 , Sharon Kühlmann-Berenzon  3 , Mats Lindblad  7 , Nikolas Kühn Hove  8 , Mia Torpdahl  1 , Marie Jansson Mörk  3
Affiliations

Cross-border outbreak of Yersinia enterocolitica O3 associated with imported fresh spinach, Sweden and Denmark, March 2019

Laura Espenhain et al. Euro Surveill. 2019 Jun.

Abstract

In April 2019, a cross-border outbreak of Yersinia entercolitica O3 was identified in Sweden and Denmark and confirmed using whole genome sequencing. Close cross-border collaboration with representatives from human and food authorities helped direct resources and investigations. Combined epidemiological and trace-back investigations pointed to imported fresh spinach as the outbreak vehicle and highlight that other vehicles of Y. enterocolitica outbreaks than pork should be considered.

Keywords: Disease Outbreaks; Epidemiology; Intersectoral Collaboration; WGS; Whole Genome Sequencing; Yersinia Infections.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Age and sex distribution of cases of Yersinia O3 biotype 4 ST18 infection, Denmark and Sweden, March 2019 (n = 57)
Figure 2
Figure 2
Number of confirmed outbreak cases by country and week of onset of symptomsa, Sweden and Denmark, 1 January–12 May 2019 (n = 57)
Figure 3
Figure 3
Overview of the trace-back of fresh spinach sold in retail chains A–C, Denmark and Sweden, March 2019
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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