A big catered event gone wrong and the perils of a trip to Cuba have combined to cause a spike in the cases of Salmonella poisoning in Toronto so far this year. Over the past decade, Toronto has averaged about 70 cases of Salmonella infection during the first two months of the year. This year, as of February 28, 114 cases of salmonellosis have been confirmed in the city. Toronto Public Health attributed much of the sharp increase to three known clusters of illness: They are the catered event held February 11, 2012 which caused transmission of the illness to many of those present. They are still reporting in. A mass infection in Cuba found its way back to Toronto as travellers came home. There was also an outbreak still under investigation which seems more general than the other two. Health officials are asking health-care providers to consider salmonellosis in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with signs and symptoms of gastroenteritis. Salmonella infection is confirmed by culture and is reportable to the local Medical Officer of Health.
