New CDC Report Highlights Foodborne Illness Challenges
The CDC released a report Thursday on data collected on foodborne illness levels in the United States collected by the agency's Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet). Campylobacter, Listeria, Shigella and Yersinia (plague) levels have all declined since baseline data was collected from 1996-1998.
FoodNet data showed there has been little change in the number of Salmonella cases while the progress made in 2003 and 2004 reduction of E. coli O157 has been lost. Vibrio infections, which are usually related to the consumption of raw shellfish, have increased to the highest level since FoodNet began surveillance.
Dr. Julie Gerberding, the CDC director, had this to say about the results of the study:
As recent outbreaks have shown, too many people in the United States are getting sick each year from foodborne illnesses. For instance, the outbreaks involving tomatoes, lettuce and spinach underscore the need to more effectively prevent contamination of produce. We're also working to strengthen our ability to quickly detect and identify foodborne illnesses. We know the faster we can detect an outbreak, the faster we can take actions that will help protect people.
Officials are unsure why incidences of E. coli O157 have increased, but believe it may be associated with the rise in number of infections cause by foods such as spinach and peanut butter which previously were not associated to infections.
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