[Investigation of a measles outbreak in Pará State, Brazil, in the age of elimination of the disease].

In July 27th, 2010, witnessed the late notification of a positive test result for measles IgM antibodies in Belém, Pará State, Brazil, sparking an epidemiological investigation and control and preventive measures. Two more confirmed cases were identified, both of whom were siblings of the index case, with clinical signs and symptoms and incubation period consistent with measles. We conducted a retrospective search in hospitals and laboratories for suspected cases that lived in or had visited Pará State from May 1st to August 4th, 2010, and had presented fever and exanthema accompanied by cough and/or sneezing and/or conjunctivitis.

A study of the enterotoxigenicity of coagulase-negative and coagulase-positive staphylococcal isolates from food poisoning outbreaks in Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify enterotoxin genes from isolates of coagulase-negative staphylococci and coagulase-positive staphylococci obtained from dairy products, responsible for 16 outbreaks of food poisoning.

Methods: From the pool of 152 staphylococcal isolates, 15 coagulase-negative and 15 coagulase-positive representatives were selected for this study. The 15 coagulase-negative isolates were tested for the presence of coa and femA genes, which are known to be characteristic of Staphylococcus aureus.

A case study of a massive staphylococcal food poisoning incident.

In the summer of 1998, approximately 8000 individuals gathered to celebrate a Catholic priest's ordination in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Within hours of food consumption, 4000 patients experienced acute gastroenteritis, and approximately 2000 (50%) overwhelmed Emergency Departments of 26 local hospitals. Of the triaged patients, 396 ( approximately 20%) required subsequent admission, and of these patients, 81 ( approximately 20%) were admitted to intensive care units.