During June 1962 an outbreak of gastroenteritis occurred at the Neuropsychiatric Hospital for Women, Bogota, D. E. (Hospital Neuropsiquatrico de Mujeres) and caused approximately 79 cases of this disease. The percentage rate attacked amounted to 52,7 % of the 150 persons examined; of which the great majority were employed in the institution. The causing agent was Salmonella Paratyphi B, which was isolated in 15 of the patients The epidemiologic findings suggested that the food responsible for its dissemination was a vegetable salad consumed by 64% of the persons who manifested symptoms.The causing agent could not be isolated in the food handlers since these did not present symptoms of the disease.