General Information

Clinical Information – Yersinia enterocolitica

Incubation period

3 to 7 days.

Common clinical features

Watery diarrhoea, abdominal pain, fever, arthritis.

Reservoir

Gastrointestinal tract of many species of wild and domestic animals and birds, usually asymptomatic.

Transmission

Contaminated food and water (organisms can multiply in food at 4°C). Direct contact with infected animals. Person to person spread may occur. Particular association with raw pork and pork products.

Other relevant features

Many cases in children present as abdominal pain that mimics appendicitis.