Trichinellosis outbreaks--Northrhine-Westfalia, Germany, 1998-1999.

From November 1998 through January 1999, 52 cases of trichinellosis were identified by the public health surveillance systems in 11 cities and districts of the state of Northrhine-Westfalia (NRW), Germany. In comparison, zero to 10 cases were reported annually in Germany during 1987-1997. This report summarizes the investigation of these cases, which indicated the existence of two simultaneous outbreaks-one caused by contaminated ground meat and the other by a commercially prepared raw smoked sausage.