ABSTRACT
Diarrhea is common among citizens as well as tourists in developing countries, and frequently it is the primary cause of death, particularly among children, in these countries. Foodbome disease surveillance is often nonexistent. Therefore, most available data are reports of cases of diarrheal illnesses by physicians or clin ics, anecdotal articles in newspapers or complaints by tourists; seldom are the re ports laboratory-confirmed. Because of limited knowledge of the foodbome dis eases on the part of investigators (if, indeed, investigations are made) or because of political pressures to not casting blame on an industry, an establishment, or an individual, little is learned to serve as bases for subsequent preventive and control measures.
