05.07.2013

EFSA, ECDC

The European Food Safety Authority and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control analysed the information submitted by 27 European Union Member States on the occurrence of zoonoses and food-borne outbreaks in 2011.
In 2011, the notification rate and confirmed number of cases of human campylobacteriosis in the European Union increased compared with 2010. Human campylobacteriosis continued to be the most commonly reported zoonosis with 220,209 confirmed cases. The number of confirmed cases of campylobacteriosis in the European Union has followed a significant increasing trend in the last four years, along with a clear seasonal trend. The proportion of Campylobacter-positive food and animal samples remained at levels similar to previous years, with the occurrence of Campylobacter continuing to be high in broiler meat.
The number of salmonellosis cases in humans decreased by 5.4 % compared with 2010 and by as much as 37.9 % compared with 2007. A statistically significant decreasing trend in the European Union was observed over the period 2008-2011. In total, 95,548 confirmed human cases were reported in 2011. It is assumed that the observed reduction in salmonellosis cases is mainly a result of the successful Salmonella control programmes in poultry populations. Most Member States met their Salmonella reduction targets for poultry, and Salmonella is declining in these animal populations. In foodstuffs, Salmonella was most often detected in fresh broiler meat.
A total of 5,648 food-borne outbreaks were reported in the European Union, resulting in 69,553 human cases, 7,125 hospitalisations and 93 deaths. Most of the reported outbreaks were caused by Salmonella, bacterial toxins, Campylobacter and viruses. The most important food sources of the outbreaks were eggs and egg products.