Yersiniosis

Yersinia enterocolitica, and less commonly other Yersinia species, are bacteria that cause acute diarrhea. Infection is usually spread by food or water contaminated by feces or urine from infected humans, animals or pets, and raw pork or pork products. Rarely, blood products contaminated with Yersinia from an infected donor cause transfusion-associated infection. Yersiniosis is likely underdiagnosed because in many laboratories it is not included in routine stool culture for gastrointestinal pathogens.

• Yersiniosis facts
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• Frequently asked questions about Yersinia, CDC

• Yersiniosis chapter from CDC's Health Information for International Travel 2012, CDC

Purpose of surveillance:

• To identify common source outbreaks
• To identify and eliminate sources of transmission

Local epidemiology:

• Five cases of yersiniosis were reported in 2011. Four of the cases were exposed in King County; one case was exposed during travel to Mexico.
• In King County, a total of 90 cases were reported from 2002 through 2011. More than one-third of these cases occurred in children less than five years of age.
• Each year in Washington state there are between 15 and 30 cases reported.