CDC: Little
Progress in Fight against Foodborne Illness
[Posted 04/24/2008]
After a brief period of decline, the
incidence of foodborne illness has not significantly
changed, according to a report released by the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
These findings are based on 2007 data from the
FoodNet population, which is a public health
surveillance tool similar to the US population that
is used to detect trends. These results should not
be generalized to the population at large.
More specifically,
Campylobacter, Listeria, Salmonella, Shigella,
E.coli
O157,
Vibrio, and Yersinia
did not decline significantly, and the estimated
incidence of
Cryptosporidium
increased when compared with the previous three
years (2004-2006). Although there have been
significant declines in the incidence of some
foodborne infections since surveillance began in
1996, these declines all occurred before 2004. Dr.
Robert Tauxe, deputy director of CDC′s Division of
Foodborne, Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases, believes
that prevention efforts have been partly
successful, but “(m)ore needs to be done to make
our food safer.”
The full report, “Preliminary FoodNet Data on the
Incidence of Infection with Pathogens Transmitted
Commonly Through Food – 10 States, United States,
2007” is available online at www.cdc.gov/mmwr.
Related Links:
CDC Press Release
FoodNet
More Information on Foodborne Infections
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