Packaged Curd and Food Poisoning in Kutch: An Outbreak Across Logistically Challenged Stations.

Background: Packaged curd is a rarely reported source of food poisoning. We analyzed a simultaneous outbreak across two stations located 95 km apart in the Kutch region of Gujarat. Materials and Methods: A descriptive observational study was conducted using interviews and clinical data from affected individuals. Case identification, symptom analysis, food consumption history, and laboratory investigations were used to trace the source and cause of the outbreak. Results: A total of 280 individuals-including personnel and family members-reported gastrointestinal illness over a four-day period following the consumption of curd or curd-based food items at both affected locations. The majority of cases were male (71%) and within the age group of 15-45 years (77%). All reported cases were epidemiologically linked to curd procured from a common dairy source serving the Kutch region. The highest food-specific attack rate was observed for curd, at 33.4%. The median incubation period ranged from 18 to 23.5 hours across the two stations. The predominant clinical manifestations included loose stools (78.2%), abdominal pain (65%), and fever (59.6%). Microbiological analysis confirmed the presence of Conclusions: This large Kutch outbreak has an unusual source of contamination with rare