before seeing a doctor; the sample must be
transported to the laboratory and await isolation,
typing and possibly sub-typing of the infectious
agent; and the results must be recorded in the
designated database and brought to the attention
of an epidemiologist. In this particular instance,
the system functioned effectively and the various
institutions involved in the process cooperated
smoothly. The outbreak was detected and the
source was determined almost simultaneously via
the laboratory surveillance system and the fieldwork
of the food authorities. Although the swift
intervention of the latter in closing down the
restaurant probably contributed to timely containment,
the outbreak nevertheless continued for
3 weeks and was responsible for illness in a very
large number of people.