ABSTRACT
Yersinia enterocolitica was first recognized in the United States in 1933 in the Bacteriology Laboratory of the New York State Department of Health's Division of Laboratories and Research. While Y. enterocolitica has worldwide geographical distribution, each country seems to have its own locally predominant strain. Y. enterocolitica with the same serotype and biotype responsible for the Oneida County outbreak were isolated from five human specimens originating in five counties including one from Oneida County. In late September 1976 an outbreak of illness with symptoms of abdominal pain and fever occurred among school children in Oneida County. Chocolate milk was epidemiologically incriminated in the outbreak when Y. enterocolitica with the same serotype and biotype as that found in the patients was isolated from one out of four unopened chocolate milk containers. In an earlier study of the outbreak some isolates were serotyped by Bissett of the California Department of Health.
