[Fish-caused illness: notify food-related outbreaks to the Municipal Health Services].

BACKGROUND: When two or more people fall ill after eating the same food, this is called an outbreak of food poisoning or food-related infection. In the Netherlands, physicians have to notify the Municipal Health Services (GGD) of such outbreaks. The GGD informs the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA).

CASE DESCRIPTION: Two clusters of scombroid poisoning (histamine poisoning in this case after eating tuna) occurred in one month. Due to the quick reporting of patients by physicians, the GGD and the NVWA immediately tracked down the source. In both clusters the NVWA confirmed high histamine levels in tuna. In reaction to these findings and the first cluster, the supplier recalled the tuna batch. This may have prevented other cases of food poisoning. In the second cluster, the implicated tuna batch had already been sold.

CONCLUSION: Timely notification by physicians of food poisoning or food-related outbreaks to the GGD enables swift tracing of the source and appropriate measures by the GGD and the NVWA..