A food poisoning outbreak due to Staphylococcus aureus, Kapar, Malaysia, 1983

An epidemiological investigation was carried out on a food borne outbreak in a National Type Primary School (Chinese). The findings of the outbreak are reported. Of the 495 Chinese students (ages between 7-12 years) interviewed, 321 were exposed to one or more of the food items sold at the school canteen. The median incubation period was one hour for the outbreak. The main symptoms were related to the upper gastro-intestinal tract (nausea and vomiting). Fried meehoon (rice vermicelli) was suspected as being the responsible vehicle. The causative organism was Staphylococcus aureus. 48 cases were treated in the Main Health Centre, Kapar.