The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a report on April 14 titled, Preliminary FoodNet Data on the Incidence of Infection with Pathogens Transmitted Commonly Through Food – 10 States, United States, 2005. FoodNet collects data from 10 U.S. states regarding diseases caused by enteric pathogens transmitted commonly through food. This report describes preliminary surveillance data for 2005 and compares them with baseline data from the period 1996-1998.


In its annual report on the incidence of infections from foodborne pathogens, the CDC noted significant declines in 2005 from the 1996-1998 baseline in illnesses caused by Yersinia (49%), Listeria (32%), Campylobacter (30%), E. coli O157 (29%), and Salmonella (9%). Although Salmonella incidence decreased overall, of the five most common Salmonella serotypes, only the incidence of S. Typhimurium (42%) significantly decreased. The estimated incidence of S. Enteritidis increased 25% and S. Heidelberg increased 25%.
“The release of the 2005 data clearly shows that the reductions in human illness from foodborne pathogens witnessed during the past few years have been sustained. Healthy People 2010 national objectives are close to being met for E. coli O157, Campylobacter and Listeria monocytogenes,” stated Under Secretary for Food Safety Dr. Richard Raymond. “FSIS looks forward to continuing its collaboration with the CDC to find better ways to detect and prevent human illness from the foods we regulate.”
The report is available on CDC’s Web site at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5514.pdf