One of the purposes of this study is to provide information, which maybe used to control and prevent disease outbreaks. Data used for the analysis were the annual statistical report of disease outbreaks excluding single cases published by the Government. A total of 249 outbreaks affecting 7026 ill persons were analyzed. The results were as follows:
1. There were 79.1% food poisoning, 15.7% waterborne disease, and 5.20-foodborne infections reported during 1981-1987. The fatality rate of 0.9% for food poisoning was higher than for waterborne disease, but the number of patients per outbreak of waterborne disease was -higher than for food poisoning (P<0.05).
2. The number of food poisoning outbreaks in large cities was larger than in rural areas, but the number of patients per outbreak in rural areas was higher than in large cities (P<0.05). The etiologic agents were confirmed in 74.1% of food poisoning. Of them 75.3% were bacteria and 24.7% were poisonous substance.
3. The proportion of food poisoning due to bacterial agents was higher in the summer months than any other time of year. The number of outbreaks for the bacterial agents was higher than for the poisonous substance agents (P4. The most frequently isolated pathogen was Vibrio, 30.1°0; followed by natural toxin, 20.6%a: Salmonella, 15.1 %; Staphyiococczzs, 13.7°0 of outbreaks. For food poisoning caused by bacteria, meat and fish products were vehicle in 56.8% of the outbreaks. By poisonous substance, mushrooms were vehicle in 64.7% of outbreaks.
5. Comparing of the place of food eaten the refectory showed the worst sanitary condition both the number of outbreaks, and the number of patients per outbreak. Home and other small feeding places were the highest in number of outbreaks: 52.3% of total food poisoning outbreaks. 959% of known places of food eaten were bacterial origin, and 45% of unknown places regarded as home and small feeding places were poisonous substances. The majority of outbreaks due to birthday party, wedding party, mourner´s house, religious rite occurred at the rural areas.
6. Different from the trends of food borne disease outbreaks, waterborne disease outbreaks occurred steadily throughout year except for winter season. The most frequently isolated pathogen were Salmonella lyphi, 33.3%; followed by Shigella, 28.2%%. 64.1% of total outbreaks occured at the rural areas, and the number of patients per outbreak was larger than cities (P<0.05).
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