The United States’ Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet) issued its report on foodborne illness infections for 2012. Overall in 2012, FoodNet’s 10 sites reported 19,531 illnesses, 4,563 hospitalizations and 68 deaths from nine germs commonly spread through foods. Infections from campylobacter — which is linked to many foods, including poultry, raw milk and produce – rose up to 14% in 2012, when compared to 2006-2008 levels – and stand at their highest level since 2000. Vibrio infections, most often associated with eating raw shellfish, were up 43%, when compared with the rates observed in 2006-2008. While progress had been made in the past few years in reducing infections from a dangerous type of E. coli, Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) O157, rates in 2012 went back up. Incidence of STEC O157 infection had decreased to 0.95 per 100,000 population in 2010, but in 2012 went back up to 1.12 per 100,000 population.
Foodborne Illnesses Continue to Pose Health Risks
US Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC). “Incidence and Trends of Infection with Pathogens Transmitted Commonly Through Food — Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network, 10 U.S. Sites, 1996–2012.” Morbidity & Mortality Weekly, April 19, 2013; 62(15);283-287.
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