The European Union Summary Report on Trends and Sources of Zoonoses, Zoonotic Agents and Food-borne Outbreaks in 2009

The European Food Safety Authority and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control have analysed the information on the occurrence of zoonoses and food-borne outbreaks in 2009 submitted by 27 European Union Member States. In 2009, 108,614 salmonellosis cases in humans were reported and the statistically significant decreasing trend in the case numbers continued. Eighteen Member States reached the European Union Salmonella reduction target for breeding flocks of fowl, 17 Member States met their reduction target for laying hens and 18 Member States met the reduction target for broilers. In foodstuffs, Salmonella was most often detected in fresh poultry and pig meat. Campylobacteriosis was the most commonly reported zoonosis with 198,252 human cases. Campylobacter was most often detected in fresh broiler meat. The number of listeriosis cases in humans increased by 19.1 % compared to 2008, with 1,645 cases in 2009. Listeria was seldom detected above the legal safety limit from ready-to-eat foods. Member States reported 3,573 verotoxigenic Escherichia coli (VTEC), 7,595 yersiniosis and 401 brucellosis cases in humans, while VTEC bacteria were mostly found from cattle and bovine meat and Yersinia from pigs and pig meat. Brucellosis and tuberculosis decreased in cattle, sheep and goat populations. In humans 1,987 Q fever cases were detected and Q fever was found in domestic ruminants. Trichinellosis and echinococcosis caused 748 and 790 human cases, respectively, and Trichinella and Echinococcus were mainly detected in wildlife. There were 1,259 human cases of toxoplasmosis reported and in animals Toxoplasma was most often found in sheep and goats. Rabies was recorded in one person in the European Union and the disease was also found in animals. Most of the 5,550 reported food-borne outbreaks were caused by Salmonella, viruses and bacterial toxins and the most important food sources were eggs, mixed or buffet meals and pig meat.