However, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), downplayed the findings, stating that campylobacteriosis remains the most commonly reported zoonotic disease and it was too soon to say whether the slight decrease was the start of a downward trend.
Salmonella cases have also continued to fall, dropping for a seventh consecutive year, although human cases of listeria is going the other way, showing gradual increases over the past four years.
The statistics were announced as part of EFSA’s annual report on zoonoses and foodborne outbreaks in the European Union for 2012.
Campylobacteriosis continues to cause the most problems, accounting for 214,000 reported cases of infections across the EU. Campylobacter, which causes diarrhoea, fevers and headaches, is most commonly found in chicken.
Marta Hugas, acting head of EFSA’s Risk Assessment and Scientific Assistance Department, said: “It is encouraging to see that cases of campylobacteriosis have gone down in 2012. But more investigation and monitoring is needed to see if this is the beginning of a trend.”
Salmonellosis, also often stemming from poultry meat consumption, accounted for 91,034 reported cases in 2012, and EFSA said that the continued fall in numbers was down to the success of Salmonella control programmes throughout EU member states.
Johan Giesecke, Chief Scientist at ECDC, said: “The decreasing trend of salmonellosis is very encouraging. However our evidence shows that any Salmonella serovar can cause human illness which requires continued surveillance and vigilance.”
Meanwhile, the number of cases of Listeria was reported to be 1,642, 10.5% up on the numbers during 2011. The effects of Listeria vary from mild to potentially life threatening, and EU surveillance only monitors severe infections. As a result, EFSA said the figures probably only represent a small proportion of the infections in humans.