Center for Disease Control - Update

Article Source: CDC

New Report on Foodborne Disease Outbreaks
10/11/2018

October 11, 2018

New Report on Foodborne Disease Outbreaks

In 2016, 839 foodborne disease outbreaks were reported to CDC, according to a recently released annual summary from the National Outbreak Reporting System (NORS). The data come from reports that state, local, and territorial public health agencies submitted to the Foodborne Disease Outbreak Surveillance System using NORS, and includes single-state and multistate outbreaks.

CDC estimates that each year in the United States, about 9.4 million people get ill from 31 known foodborne germs. These illnesses lead to about 56,000 hospitalizations and 1,350 deaths. Although most foodborne illnesses are not part of a recognized outbreak, outbreaks provide important information on the agents (germs, toxins, and chemicals) that cause illness, the foods responsible, and the settings that lead to transmission.

Here are the main findings from the annual summary:

• Reported foodborne disease outbreaks resulted in 14,259 illnesses, 875 hospitalizations, 17 deaths, and recalls of 18 food products.
• Norovirus was the most frequently reported cause, with 145 outbreaks and 3,794 outbreak-associated illnesses.
• Salmonella was the second most common cause, with 132 outbreaks and 3,047 outbreak-associated illnesses.
• Restaurants were linked to outbreaks more often than any other place where food was prepared, as in previous reports. Restaurants were associated with 459 outbreaks, accounting for 61% of outbreaks that reported a single location where food was prepared. Most of these restaurant outbreaks (363) were reported at establishments offering sit-down dining.
• The most common food categories linked to outbreaks were: o Fish (26 outbreaks) o Mollusks, such as oysters and scallops (21 outbreaks) o Dairy (19 outbreaks; all involving unpasteurized products) o Pork (18 outbreaks)

• The food categories responsible for the most outbreak-associated illnesses were: o Mollusks (529 illnesses) o Pork (438) o Grains and beans (383) o Chicken (356)

See other report highlights >
Read the full report [PDF - 24 pages] >

Undercooked Chicken Liver Linked to Increase in Foodborne Illness

Foodborne outbreaks from eating undercooked chicken liver are on the rise, and most are associated with restaurants, according to a study [PDF - 8 pages] by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service and CDC. Twenty-eight U.S. outbreaks linked to chicken liver during 2000–2016 caused 361 illnesses and 46 hospitalizations, the study said. The Campylobacter and Salmonella outbreaks often were associated with chicken liver dishes that were pâté or a similar blended dish (85.6%); inadequately cooked (92.8%); or prepared in a restaurant or other foodservice setting (89.3%). Outbreaks occurred more often during 2014–2016.

Like other chicken products, chicken liver has been found to be contaminated with Campylobacter and Salmonella. Campylobacter is a type of bacteria that can live inside chicken liver. If the middle of the liver isn’t cooked to 165°F, bacteria can survive and cause illness. Foodborne illness can be prevented by teaching foodservice workers to cook chicken livers to 165°F to kill bacteria.

USDA Updates Foodkeeper App

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has updated its FoodKeeper app with a larger selection of foods and beverages, and their storage information. This update adds 85 new food items to the FoodKeeper app, including chorizo, prosciutto, edamame, fresh salsa, canned tuna, cereal bars, and salad dressings.
The app is available for Android and Apple devices. For those who do not have access to a smartphone, the FoodKeeper app can also be accessed at FoodSafety.gov/FoodKeeper.

Clean Hands Are a Recipe for Health

Global Handwashing Day is October 15. Join CDC’s Handwashing Heroes campaign by posting a picture or video of how you clean your hands, and share it on social media using #HandwashingHeroes. This year’s theme is “Clean hands are a recipe for health!”
Want to know if you’re washing your hands correctly? Watch a Facebook Live demonstration on October 15 at 11 a.m. EDT.

CDC Scientists Find a New Antibiotic-Resistant Gene in Salmonella

CDC scientists from the National Antimicrobial-Resistance Monitoring System for Enteric Pathogens (NARMS) discovered a new antibiotic-resistant gene during a 2017 Salmonella Heidelberg outbreak investigation.

The outbreak strain had concerning multiple antibiotic resistance and unexplained resistance to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, which is a synthetic antibiotic combination recommended for the treatment of complicated non-typhoidal Salmonella infections in humans. Resistance to this drug combination is usually due to bacteria acquiring known resistance genes.

Predicting antibiotic resistance from whole genome sequencing (WGS) analysis is an important tool during outbreak investigations and routine surveillance, due to its speed and availability. However, this report highlights the continued need for traditional antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST). Comparison of WGS analysis and traditional AST allows NARMS to identify novel resistance genes, thereby improving the ability to predict resistance. Characterization of this novel gene was recently reported in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy.

Study Describes Recent Patterns in Salmonella Newport Infections

A CDC study published in Foodborne Pathogens and Disease highlights key regional and demographic features of Salmonella enterica serotype Newport infections in the United States. S. Newport is the third most common serotype causing human infections in the United States, representing about 8% of the estimated 1.2 million Salmonella infections in 2013.
Findings from the study, which analyzed 2004–2013 data from four surveillance systems, include:

• S. Newport infections peaked in 2010, with the highest number occurring in southern states and among children younger than 5 years.
• Most people were infected with strains that were susceptible to all antibiotics tested.
• S. Newport outbreaks have been linked to eating produce items and beef.
• Overall, 8% of S. Newport strain isolates tested were highly resistant to antibiotics.

=

Robert Riechel

Send your articles and photos to:

E=Mail: SanBrunoPatch.Robert@Yahoo.com

WEB: https://patch.com/california/s...

Photo Credit: San Bruno CA Patch Archives

Source Credit: CDC

CLICK on link below to Subscribe to News Alerts and a Daily Email Newsletter for San Bruno Patch

http://link.patch.com/join/3-0-subscribe?list=US_CA_SANBRUNO_282

#SanBrunoPatch