incidence
The number of new events occurring within a specified time period within a defined geographical area; for example, the number of flu cases per year in Europe
In food safety, incidence refers to the number of new cases of a foodborne illness or infection that occur in a specific population over a defined period. It helps measure how frequently a disease or contamination event is happening, which is essential for monitoring trends, identifying outbreaks, and assessing public health risks.
EFSA plays a key role in protecting public health by monitoring, collecting, and analysing data on foodborne and zoonotic diseases, antimicrobial resistance, parasites and vectors across the EU food chain. Working closely with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), EFSA publishes annual reports on zoonoses and foodborne diseases, using a One Health approach that considers the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health.