Heidi Wichmann-Schauer

Large listeriosis outbreak linked to cheese made from pasteurized milk, Germany, 2006-2007.

A commercial cheese (acid curd) made from pasteurized milk caused a large listeriosis outbreak in Germany from October 2006 through February 2007. The Listeria monocytogenes outbreak strain was identified in humans and in cheese samples from a patients home and from the production plant. During the outbreak period, 189 patients were affected, which was 97% above the mean case number for the respective time period of the years 2002 to 2005. Of patients with available detailed information on cheese consumption (n=47), 70% reported to have consumed the incriminated cheese product. Recent European food safety alerts due to Listeria-contaminated cheeses more often concerned products made from pasteurized or heat-treated milk than from raw milk. The findings should be considered in prevention guidelines addressing vulnerable populations.

Outbreak of Trichinellosis Due to Wild Boar Meat and Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Post Exposure Prophylaxis, Germany, 2013

BACKGROUND Food safety authorities discovered that wild boar meat products contaminated with Trichinella spiralis had entered the food chain in Germany in March 2013. Public health authorities issued guidelines for health professionals including post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) using mebendazole and advised the public to seek medical advice if exposed. Our objective was to identify factors associated with the development of trichinellosis and to evaluate post exposure prophylaxis. METHODS Persons who reported to local public health departments as exposed were interviewed concerning exposure, symptoms, and medication. Serum samples were tested by an in-house Trichinella-specific enzyme-linked innunosorbent assay. Cases were defined as persons presenting with myalgia and/or periorbital edema and Trichinella-specific immunoglobulin M and immunoglobulin G antibodies after exposure to implicated products. RESULTS Of 101 persons interviewed, 71 were exposed and serologically tested. Antibodies were detected in 21/71 (30%) and 14/71 (20%) met the case definition. Attack rates were positively correlated to the amount of implicated product consumed. Among n = 37 persons who received anthelmintics as PEP, 6 persons developed trichinellosis. These cases exclusively occurred among persons starting PEP 6 days or later post-exposure. Exposure to implicated products and delaying PEP were also significantly associated with developing trichinellosis (P < .01) in a multivariable analysis. CONCLUSIONS Concerted efforts by food safety and public health authorities lead to timely outbreak control and facilitated the provision of early PEP. PEP appears to be effective in preventing trichinellosis when given early, preferably within 6 days. We therefore recommend initiating PEP without delay in similar settings and encourage public health professionals to fast-track this intervention.

Zusammenarbeit nationaler und europäischer Behörden im Bereich lebensmittelbedingter Zoonosen

Prevention and control of food-borne zoonoses is given high priority in Germany and in the European Union. To implement targeted control measures, detailed data are necessary on human zoonoses and on the prevalence of zoonotic agents along the food chain. EU-wide legislations have been stipulated that allow collection and collation of relevant data across member states. The necessary structures have been established and are being constantly refined. In addition, surveillance systems and early warning systems have been improved or set up, respectively, to timely investigate and control food-borne outbreaks and to transnationally communicate food safety risks. For prevention and control to be effective, well-defined responsibilities and close collaboration of public health, veterinary public health and food safety authorities are needed. This report reviews the pertinent legislation, the established structures, and the collaboration of competent authorities in Germany and particularly in Europe. In the future, data quality and collaboration on national and EU levels will likely be further improved. Targeted control measures, particularly at primary production, are expected to lead to a sustainable reduction of the incidence of food-borne zoonoses.ZusammenfassungDie Prävention und Kontrolle lebensmittelbedingter Zoonosen hat im nationalen und europäischen Kontext einen hohen Stellenwert. Um zielgerichtete Kontrollmaßnahmen ergreifen zu können, werden umfangreiche Daten über Zoonosen beim Menschen und zum Vorkommen von Zoonoseerregern in der Lebensmittelkette benötigt. Daher wurden gemeinschaftliche Rechtsvorschriften geschaffen, die die Erfassung und Zusammenführung der notwendigen Daten auf nationaler und europäischer Ebene ermöglichen. Erforderliche Strukturen wurden etabliert und fortlaufend optimiert. Außerdem wurden Surveillance- und Schnellwarnsysteme verbessert bzw. eingerichtet, um lebensmittelbedingte Krankheitsausbrüche zeitnah erkennen und untersuchen zu können. Weiterhin können Informationen über nicht sichere Lebens- und Futtermittel schnell über nationale Grenzen hinweg ausgetauscht werden. Eine effektive Prävention und Kontrolle erfordert klar definierte Zuständigkeiten der Gesundheits-, Veterinär- und Lebensmittelüberwachungsbehörden sowie deren enge Zusammenarbeit. Im vorliegenden Beitrag werden die vorhandenen Strukturen sowie die Zusammenarbeit der zuständigen Stellen unter Berücksichtigung der gültigen Rechtsvorschriften mit speziellem Fokus auf der europäischen Dimension dargestellt. Es ist zu erwarten, dass die Datenlage und die Kooperation auf nationaler und europäischer Ebene zukünftig weiter verbessert werden kann und dass sich die Inzidenz lebensmittelbedingter Zoonosen durch gezielte Kontrollmaßnahmen, insbesondere in der Primärproduktion, nachhaltig reduzieren lässt.AbstractPrevention and control of food-borne zoonoses is given high priority in Germany and in the European Union. To implement targeted control measures, detailed data are necessary on human zoonoses and on the prevalence of zoonotic agents along the food chain. EU-wide legislations have been stipulated that allow collection and collation of relevant data across member states. The necessary structures have been established and are being constantly refined. In addition, surveillance systems and early warning systems have been improved or set up, respectively, to timely investigate and control food-borne outbreaks and to transnationally communicate food safety risks. For prevention and control to be effec- tive, well-defined responsibilities and close collaboration of public health, veterinary public health and food safety authorities are needed. This report reviews the pertinent legislation, the established structures, and the collaboration of competent authorities in Germany and particularly in Europe. In the future, data quality and collaboration on national and EU levels will likely be further improved. Targeted control measures, particularly at primary production, are expected to lead to a sustainable reduction of the incidence of food-borne zoonoses.

Zusammenarbeit nationaler und europäischer Behörden im Bereich lebensmittelbedingter Zoonosen@@@Intersectoral collaboration of institutions in Germany and Europe in the field of food-borne zoonoses

Prevention and control of food-borne zoonoses is given high priority in Germany and in the European Union. To implement targeted control measures, detailed data are necessary on human zoonoses and on the prevalence of zoonotic agents along the food chain. EU-wide legislations have been stipulated that allow collection and collation of relevant data across member states. The necessary structures have been established and are being constantly refined. In addition, surveillance systems and early warning systems have been improved or set up, respectively, to timely investigate and control food-borne outbreaks and to transnationally communicate food safety risks. For prevention and control to be effective, well-defined responsibilities and close collaboration of public health, veterinary public health and food safety authorities are needed. This report reviews the pertinent legislation, the established structures, and the collaboration of competent authorities in Germany and particularly in Europe. In the future, data quality and collaboration on national and EU levels will likely be further improved. Targeted control measures, particularly at primary production, are expected to lead to a sustainable reduction of the incidence of food-borne zoonoses.ZusammenfassungDie Prävention und Kontrolle lebensmittelbedingter Zoonosen hat im nationalen und europäischen Kontext einen hohen Stellenwert. Um zielgerichtete Kontrollmaßnahmen ergreifen zu können, werden umfangreiche Daten über Zoonosen beim Menschen und zum Vorkommen von Zoonoseerregern in der Lebensmittelkette benötigt. Daher wurden gemeinschaftliche Rechtsvorschriften geschaffen, die die Erfassung und Zusammenführung der notwendigen Daten auf nationaler und europäischer Ebene ermöglichen. Erforderliche Strukturen wurden etabliert und fortlaufend optimiert. Außerdem wurden Surveillance- und Schnellwarnsysteme verbessert bzw. eingerichtet, um lebensmittelbedingte Krankheitsausbrüche zeitnah erkennen und untersuchen zu können. Weiterhin können Informationen über nicht sichere Lebens- und Futtermittel schnell über nationale Grenzen hinweg ausgetauscht werden. Eine effektive Prävention und Kontrolle erfordert klar definierte Zuständigkeiten der Gesundheits-, Veterinär- und Lebensmittelüberwachungsbehörden sowie deren enge Zusammenarbeit. Im vorliegenden Beitrag werden die vorhandenen Strukturen sowie die Zusammenarbeit der zuständigen Stellen unter Berücksichtigung der gültigen Rechtsvorschriften mit speziellem Fokus auf der europäischen Dimension dargestellt. Es ist zu erwarten, dass die Datenlage und die Kooperation auf nationaler und europäischer Ebene zukünftig weiter verbessert werden kann und dass sich die Inzidenz lebensmittelbedingter Zoonosen durch gezielte Kontrollmaßnahmen, insbesondere in der Primärproduktion, nachhaltig reduzieren lässt.AbstractPrevention and control of food-borne zoonoses is given high priority in Germany and in the European Union. To implement targeted control measures, detailed data are necessary on human zoonoses and on the prevalence of zoonotic agents along the food chain. EU-wide legislations have been stipulated that allow collection and collation of relevant data across member states. The necessary structures have been established and are being constantly refined. In addition, surveillance systems and early warning systems have been improved or set up, respectively, to timely investigate and control food-borne outbreaks and to transnationally communicate food safety risks. For prevention and control to be effec- tive, well-defined responsibilities and close collaboration of public health, veterinary public health and food safety authorities are needed. This report reviews the pertinent legislation, the established structures, and the collaboration of competent authorities in Germany and particularly in Europe. In the future, data quality and collaboration on national and EU levels will likely be further improved. Targeted control measures, particularly at primary production, are expected to lead to a sustainable reduction of the incidence of food-borne zoonoses.

[Intersectoral collaboration of institutions in Germany and Europe in the field of food-borne zoonoses].

Prevention and control of food-borne zoonoses is given high priority in Germany and in the European Union. To implement targeted control measures, detailed data are necessary on human zoonoses and on the prevalence of zoonotic agents along the food chain. EU-wide legislations have been stipulated that allow collection and collation of relevant data across member states. The necessary structures have been established and are being constantly refined. In addition, surveillance systems and early warning systems have been improved or set up, respectively, to timely investigate and control food-borne outbreaks and to transnationally communicate food safety risks. For prevention and control to be effective, well-defined responsibilities and close collaboration of public health, veterinary public health and food safety authorities are needed. This report reviews the pertinent legislation, the established structures, and the collaboration of competent authorities in Germany and particularly in Europe. In the future, data quality and collaboration on national and EU levels will likely be further improved. Targeted control measures, particularly at primary production, are expected to lead to a sustainable reduction of the incidence of food-borne zoonoses.ZusammenfassungDie Prävention und Kontrolle lebensmittelbedingter Zoonosen hat im nationalen und europäischen Kontext einen hohen Stellenwert. Um zielgerichtete Kontrollmaßnahmen ergreifen zu können, werden umfangreiche Daten über Zoonosen beim Menschen und zum Vorkommen von Zoonoseerregern in der Lebensmittelkette benötigt. Daher wurden gemeinschaftliche Rechtsvorschriften geschaffen, die die Erfassung und Zusammenführung der notwendigen Daten auf nationaler und europäischer Ebene ermöglichen. Erforderliche Strukturen wurden etabliert und fortlaufend optimiert. Außerdem wurden Surveillance- und Schnellwarnsysteme verbessert bzw. eingerichtet, um lebensmittelbedingte Krankheitsausbrüche zeitnah erkennen und untersuchen zu können. Weiterhin können Informationen über nicht sichere Lebens- und Futtermittel schnell über nationale Grenzen hinweg ausgetauscht werden. Eine effektive Prävention und Kontrolle erfordert klar definierte Zuständigkeiten der Gesundheits-, Veterinär- und Lebensmittelüberwachungsbehörden sowie deren enge Zusammenarbeit. Im vorliegenden Beitrag werden die vorhandenen Strukturen sowie die Zusammenarbeit der zuständigen Stellen unter Berücksichtigung der gültigen Rechtsvorschriften mit speziellem Fokus auf der europäischen Dimension dargestellt. Es ist zu erwarten, dass die Datenlage und die Kooperation auf nationaler und europäischer Ebene zukünftig weiter verbessert werden kann und dass sich die Inzidenz lebensmittelbedingter Zoonosen durch gezielte Kontrollmaßnahmen, insbesondere in der Primärproduktion, nachhaltig reduzieren lässt.AbstractPrevention and control of food-borne zoonoses is given high priority in Germany and in the European Union. To implement targeted control measures, detailed data are necessary on human zoonoses and on the prevalence of zoonotic agents along the food chain. EU-wide legislations have been stipulated that allow collection and collation of relevant data across member states. The necessary structures have been established and are being constantly refined. In addition, surveillance systems and early warning systems have been improved or set up, respectively, to timely investigate and control food-borne outbreaks and to transnationally communicate food safety risks. For prevention and control to be effec- tive, well-defined responsibilities and close collaboration of public health, veterinary public health and food safety authorities are needed. This report reviews the pertinent legislation, the established structures, and the collaboration of competent authorities in Germany and particularly in Europe. In the future, data quality and collaboration on national and EU levels will likely be further improved. Targeted control measures, particularly at primary production, are expected to lead to a sustainable reduction of the incidence of food-borne zoonoses.