The European Union summary report on trends and sources of zoonoses, zoonotic agents and food-borne outbreaks in 2013
Meta data
This report was revised to reflect updated datasets submitted by Romania, Ireland, Portugal and Germany during 2015. The updated data relate to Salmonella in poultry species for Romania, verocytotoxigenic Escherichia coli (VTEC) in dairy products for Ireland, rabies in stray dogs and stray cats for Portugal, and West Nile virus (WNV) in birds for Germany. The following sections on Salmonella were amended: Summary – Salmonella (p. 5) and rabies (p. 9); Section 3.1.2 – Salmonella in animals (Table 5 Salmonella in breeding flocks, Table 6 Salmonella in laying hen flocks, Table 7 Salmonella in broiler flocks, Table 9 Salmonella in fattening flocks of turkeys and related Figures); and Section 3.1.4 – Salmonella discussion. The revised data did not change the outcome that Romania met its Salmonella reduction targets for poultry in 2013. At EU level, the prevalence of the five targeted Salmonella serovars in adult breeding flocks tested under the mandatory Salmonella control programmes was 0.6% in 2013, unchanged from 2012. In relation to VTEC, Section 3.4.2 (test results in dairy products found negative by Ireland) was amended. Section 3.11.2 on rabies was amended (rabies in animals with testing results in stray dogs and stray cats found negative by Portugal). Section 3.13.2 on WNV was amended (WNV in animals with test results in birds found negative by Germany).
Abstract
This report of the European Food Safety Authority and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control presents the results of the zoonoses monitoring activities carried out in 2013 in 32 European countries (28 Member States and four non-Member States). Campylobacter iosis was the most commonly reported zoonosis. After several years of an increasing European Union (EU) trend, the human Campylobacter iosis notification rate has stabilised. In food and animals no EU trends were observed and the occurrence of Campylobacter continued to be high in broiler meat at EU level. The decreasing EU trend in confirmed human salmonellosis cases observed in recent years continued. Most Member States met their Salmonella reduction targets for poultry. In foodstuffs, the reported EU-level Salmonella non-compliance in fresh poultry meat decreased. Human listeriosis increased further, showing an increasing EU trend in 2009-2013. In ready-to-eat foods Listeria was seldom detected above the legal safety limit. Also during 2009-2013, a decreasing EU trend was observed in confirmed yersiniosis cases. Positive findings for Yersinia were mainly reported in pig meat and products thereof. The number of confirmed verocytotoxigenic Escherichia coli (VTEC) infections in humans increased. VTEC was reported from food and animals. A total of 5,196 food-borne outbreaks, including water-borne outbreaks, were reported in the EU. Most food-borne outbreaks were caused by Salmonella , followed by viruses, bacterial toxins and Campylobacter , whereas in 28.9 % of all outbreaks the causative agent was unknown. Important food vehicles in strong-evidence food-borne outbreaks were eggs and egg products, followed by mixed food, and fish and fish products. The report further summarises trends and sources along the food chain of tuberculosis due to Mycobacterium bovis, Brucella, Trichinella, Echinococcus, Toxoplasma , rabies, Coxiella burnetii (Q fever), West Nile Virus and tularaemia.