An Assessment of Patient-Related Economic Costs in an Outbreak of Salmonellosis

LITTLE information is available on the economic cost of infectious diseases such as salmonellosis. Although animal salmonellosis has a major financial effect, human salmonellosis is often considered only an inconvenience.1 Except for one study2 most data on costs of human salmonellosis are projections.1 , 3 , 4 In July and August, 1976, thousands contracted salmonellosis from eating contaminated cheddar cheese served primarily in Mexican-style restaurants in Denver and Pueblo, Colorado.5 Patients experienced diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, cramps and fever for several days to several weeks. Severe diarrhea, volume depletion, enteric fever and other complications caused at least 68 to be hospitalized. The outbreak was detected . . .