Introduction:

Food-borne illnesses are a major global public health concern. Unsafe food not only poses a health risk but also has a significant impact on a nation’s socioeconomic development. Humans can contract a wide range of germs, viruses, parasites, and chemical risks through tainted food, which can lead to disease and even death. These risks include a variety of origins, including the environment and primary production at the start of the food chain, as well as household handling and food intake. International trade and travel contribute to the emergence of new dangers and the spread of foodborne illness, making prevention, control, and surveillance even more difficult.

The National Institute for Public Health and the Environment and the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority publishes the Zoonoses Report annually. Zoonoses are contagious illnesses that can be spread from people to animals and vice versa.

Salmonella and Campylobacter infections persisted at historically low levels. In 2021, measures such as the temporary closure of pubs and restaurants, foreign travel restrictions, and a greater emphasis on hand hygiene were implemented to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The number of foodborne diseases in the Netherlands increased in 2021 but remains below pre-Coronavirus levels.

Listeria and E. coli:

At the time of the Listeria infection, 12 patients were pregnant. Two kids were stillborn, and one lady miscarried. 94 Listeria illnesses were reported last year, which is comparable to the previous year. In 2021, 11 persons, ranging in age from 56 to 87, passed away.

The largest cluster included 16 food isolates, 9 isolates from previous years, and 5 patients who became unwell. A microbiological connection to a salmon-tainted incident in Germany was suspected. In 2021, 483 patients with STEC infections were reported. 33 out of 470 individuals were believed to have brought the virus home from overseas. Hospitalization rates for E. coli O157 patients were 40% higher than those for non-O157 patients (31%). E. coli infection caused the deaths of two ladies over 65. It was the most prevalent non-O157 strain, followed distantly by E. coli O103 and E. coli O63. A total of 29 distinct O-groups were discovered. 25 cases with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), including 11 children under the age of 10, were reported.

Salmonella and Campylobacter:

There were 4,219 campylobacteriosis cases in 2021 as compared to 3,942 cases in 2020. More than 90% were Campylobacter jejuni, 7% were Campylobacter coli, and the remainder were other Campylobacter species. A three-year Campylobacter surveillance initiative in the Netherlands began in 2021. The goal is to map the clustering of campylobacteriosis patients and see how far back the sources of human clusters may be tracked. With a median size of 2 and a range of 2 to 14 isolates, a total of 57 clusters were found.

The most frequent causes of salmonellosis were serotypes Typhimurium, Monophasic Typhimurium, and Enteritidis. There were 42 clusters of human Salmonella Enteritidis isolates, ranging in size from 2 to 79 cases, with a median size of 6. There were 50 clusters of the Salmonella Typhimurium isolates, with a median size of 3 and a range of 3 to 39. Other Salmonella types were discovered in 72 clusters with a median size of 2 isolates and a range of 2 to 41.

159 individuals were impacted by 6 outbreaks. One was the global Salmonella Braenderup outbreak linked to melons from Honduras, and another has had 26 cases since 2018 and was connected to eggs. In an epidemic of Salmonella Bovismorbificans linked to Kosterworst, 11 persons became ill.

In the meantime, 185 dairy farms were examined, and 91% of them had Campylobacter. Each year, researchers from RIVM, the NVWA, and Wageningen Food Safety Research look into the frequency of disease occurrence in different areas of livestock production. In 2021, scientists analyzed the dung of cows and calves at Dutch dairy farms to see if 107 farmers, family members, and employees were carriers of these infections. Salmonella and Cryptosporidium have been found in young calves and on farms. In manure, Listeria and E. coli were discovered.  By avoiding raw milk and its byproducts, such as cheese, people can reduce their risk of contracting an illness.