EU Salmonella Cases Down, Campylobacter Up in 2010

PARMA, ItalyThe number of Salmonella outbreaks in humans in the European Union dropped 9% in 20109, marking a decrease for the sixth consecutive year, according to a new report from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). Campylobacteriosis remains the most reported zoonotic infection in humans since 2005 and the number of cases has been increasing over the last five years.

The report notes the likely main reasons for the decrease in human salmonellosis cases are the successful EU Salmonella control programs for reducing the prevalence of the bacteria in poultry populations, particularly in laying hens. Salmonella accounted for 99,020 reported human cases in 2010 compared to 108,618 in 2009. Salmonella was most often detected in fresh broiler and turkey meat.

The positive progress in the reduction of Salmonella cases in humans and poultry is continuing and the majority of Member States met the targets set for the reduction of Salmonella in different poultry flocks in 2010," said Claudia Heppner, EFSAs Acting Director of Risk Assessment and Scientific Assistance.

In 2010, a total of 212,064 Campylobacter cases in humans were reported, an increase for the fifth consecutive year with 7% more cases compared to 2009. Campylobacter was mostly found in raw poultry meat. In order to combat Campylobacter, the European Commission is currently carrying out a cost-benefit analysis of the control measures for the bacteria at different stages of the food chain..

Listeria infections in humans decreased with 1,601 confirmed cases in 2010. The number of human cases of Yersinia enterocolitica, another bacterium mostly found in pigs and their meat, fell in 2010 to 6,776 cases. The number of human cases of trichinellosis decreased significantly in 2010 (223 cases compared to 748 in 2009) with a corresponding reduction of Trichinella findings in pigs, an important source of the parasite.

Verotoxigenic Escherichia coli (VTEC) accounted for 4,000 human disease cases in 2010. VTEC was most often reported in cattle and their meat.

There were 5,262 foodborne outbreaks recorded in the EU in 2010, affecting more than over 43,000 people and causing 25 deaths. The most frequently reported causes of foodborne outbreaks were Salmonella (31% of all outbreaks), viruses (15%) and Campylobacter (9%). The largest sources of outbreaks were eggs and egg products, mixed and buffet meals and vegetables and derived products.