Epidemiology of foodborne disease outbreaks caused by Vibrio parahaemolyticus, China, 2003–2008

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a ubiquitous marine bacterium that has become an important public-health concern worldwide. Consumption of food contaminated with V. parahaemolyticus causes acute gastroenteritis in humans. To gain understanding of epidemiological characteristics of V. parahaemolyticus gastroenteritis outbreak in China, we summarized data on 2003–2008 V. parahaemolyticus gastroenteritis outbreaks in 12 provinces reported to China National Foodborne Diseases Surveillance Network. A food item was implicated if V. parahaemolyticus was isolated from food or based on epidemiologic evidence. From 2003 to 2008, 322 gastroenteritis outbreaks due to V. parahaemolyticus were reported, resulting in 9041 illnesses and 3948 hospitalizations. Outbreak size ranged from 2 to 244 cases, with a median of 20 cases. Most of the outbreaks occurred during April and October. A single food commodity was implicated in 187 (58%) outbreaks, of which 58 (31%) involved meat and meat products, and 52 (28%) involved aquatic products. Outbreaks most frequently occurred in restaurants (39%), cafeterias (30%), and private residences (15%). Outbreaks most frequently attributed to cross contamination (50%). To prevent and control V. parahaemolyticus gastroenteritis outbreaks, food workers and consumers should receive training on avoiding cross contamination of ready-to-eat foods with uncooked seafoods, particularly in warm weather months.