Listeria and VTEC infections rise but Salmonella falls, say EU agencies

A total of 5,196 foodborne outbreaks, including waterborne ones were reported, said the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

The report presents the results of zoonoses monitoring in 2013​ in 32 European countries (28 Member States (MS) and four non-Member States). 

Overall, 43,183 human cases, 5,946 hospitalisations and 11 deaths were reported. The evidence supporting the link between human cases and food vehicles was strong in 839 outbreaks.

The largest number was caused by Salmonella (22.5%), followed by viruses (18.1%), bacterial toxins (16.1%), and Campylobacter (8%) but for 28.9% the causative agent was unknown.

Zoonoses can be transmitted directly or indirectly between animals and humans and zoonotic foodborne diseases are transmitted by eating contaminated food.

The number of outbreaks due to bacterial toxins increased by 58.9%, from 525 to 834, during 2008-2013. 

Campylobacter results stabilise​

Last year’s report found​ cases of campylobacteriosis decreased slightly for the first time in five years.

This year, Campylobacteriosis infections have stabilised after years of an increasing trend but it is still the most commonly reported foodborne disease in the EU with 214,779 cases.

“The stabilisation of campylobacteriosis cases and the continuing downward trend of salmonellosis is good news, but we should not lower our guard as reporting of other diseases such as listeriosis and VTEC infections is going up​,” said Marta Hugas, head of department of EFSA’s Risk Assessment and Scientific Assistance Department.

In 2013, 414 outbreaks were reported, of which 32 had strong-evidence. The sources of these were, in decreasing order of importance, broiler meat and products; other, mixed or unspecified poultry meat and products, and milk and mixed food.

Listeria cases continue to rise​

In 2013, 27 MS reported 1,763 confirmed human cases of listeriosis which represented an 8.6% increase compared with 2012 and continued an increase over the past five years.

A total of 191 deaths were reported in 2013 with France having the highest number, 64 cases.

The proportion of positive samples at retail were highest in fish products (mainly smoked fish), followed by soft and semi-soft cheeses, RTE meat products and hard cheeses.

“The rise of reported invasive listeriosis cases is of great concern as the infection is acquired mostly from ready-to-eat food and it may lead to death, particularly among the increasing population of elderly people and patients with weakened immunity in Europe​,” said Mike Catchpole, chief scientist at ECDC.

In 2013, 13 Listeria outbreaks were reported by seven MS and one non-MS, which was slightly higher than in previous years.

Eight were supported by strong evidence, where crustaceans, shellfish and molluscs and products thereof, were implicated in three outbreaks.

VTEC infections increase​

In 2013, 6,043 confirmed cases of verocytotoxigenic E.coli (VTEC) infections were reported, an increase of 5.9% compared to 2012 and there were 13 deaths due to VTEC infection.

The notification rate in the two years following the large outbreak in 2011 was higher than before, possibly an effect of increased awareness and more laboratories testing for other serogroups than O157, said the EU agencies.

The most common VTEC serogroup in 2013 was O157 (48.9% of cases with known serogroup). Serogroup O26, the second most common in 2013, increased by 65.1% between 2011 and 2013.

In 2013, 73 outbreaks caused by VTEC were reported and 12 were supported by strong evidence. The main food vehicle was bovine meat and products, followed by ‘vegetables and juices and other products’ and cheese.

Salmonella cases decrease again​

In 2013, 82,694 confirmed salmonellosis cases were reported by 27 EU MS, resulting in a notification rate of 20.4 cases per 100,000 population, representing a 12.5% decrease compared with 2012.

Fifty-nine fatal cases were reported by nine member states among the 14 that provided data on the outcome of their cases.

As in previous years, the two most commonly reported Salmonella serovars were S. Enteritidis and S. Typhimurium, representing 39.5% and 20.2%, respectively, of all serovars in confirmed human cases.

The highest proportions of Salmonella-positive single samples were for fresh turkey meat at an average level of 5.4%, followed by fresh broiler, pig and bovine meat.

Yersinia third most common in EU​

A total of 6,471 confirmed cases of yersiniosis were reported in 2013, making it the third most commonly reported zoonosis, which was a decrease of 2.8 % compared to 2012.

The highest country-specific notification rates were in MS in North Eastern Europe and positive findings came from pig meat and products, bovine meat and raw cow milk for human consumption.

Tuberculosis due to Mycobacterium bovis, Brucella, Trichinella, Echinococcus, Toxoplasma, Rabies, Q-Fever, West Nile virus and Tularaemia are also detailed in the report.