On December 2, 1998, the National Public Health Network (RNSP) was informed by the National Reference Center for Salmonella and Shigella (CNRSS) of an increase, during the first half of November, in the number of human isolates of Salmonella Coelii received for serotyping. The number of cases observed (N=26) for that month significantly exceeded the number observed in November 1997 (N=3). Twenty-one strains originated from departments in the southwestern quarter of France. Two family outbreaks had been reported when the strains were sent to the CNRS by two laboratories located in the departments of Pyrénées-Orientales and Charente-Maritime. An epidemiological investigation was initiated to confirm the epidemiological nature of the problem, assess its magnitude, identify the vehicle and source of the outbreak, and guide control measures. The results of these epidemiological and veterinary investigations showed that this community outbreak is attributable to the consumption of fresh ground beef, likely originating from a single batch (produced on a single day), manufactured at a processing plant located in the Tarn-et-Garonne department.