According to the annual report on zoonotic disease published by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), the declining trend of salmonellosis cases in the EU has levelled off.
The report indicates that since 2014 cases of Salmonella Enteritidis acquired in the EU have increased in humans by 3%. In laying hens, the prevalence increased from 0.7% to 1.21% over the same period.
There were 94,530 human cases of salmonellosis reported in the EU in 2016. S. Enteritidis – the most widespread cases of Salmonella, accounted for 59% of all salmonellosis cases originating in the EU and is mostly associated with the consumption of eggs, egg products and poultry meat.
Campylobacter, the most reported food-borne pathogen in humans, was detected in 246,307 people, an increase of 6.1% compared with 2015. Despite the high number of cases, fatalities were low (0.03%). Levels of Campylobacter are high in chicken meat.
Listeria infections, which are generally more severe, led to hospitalisation in 97% of reported cases. In 2016, listeriosis continued to rise, with 2,536 cases (a 9.3% increase) and 247 deaths reported. Listeria seldom exceeded legal safety limits in ready-to-eat foods.
WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT CAMPYLOBACTER?
Read IFST's Information Statement on Foodborne Campylobacteriosis