CDC Food Safety Update: April Publications & Web Materials

CDC & Food Safety New reports, publications, and web material April 2013

New CDC Epidemic Intelligence Service Officers support food safety! Each year, the Division of Foodborne, Waterborne & Environmental Diseases recruits a new “class” of Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) Officers who play a critical role in investigating outbreaks, among other duties. This year, the branches that work in foodborne disease will welcome five new EIS officers. Last year, our EIS Officers assisted on four food-related Epi-Aids, or requests for epidemiologic assistance, both domestic and international, and on many other multistate outbreak investigations. Read the digitial press kit for more information about EIS Officers. Check out these stories featuring the important work of CDC EIS Officers: So You Want To Be A Disease Detective? ‘Contagion’ shines light on real-life ‘disease detectives’ Chasing Clues to Detect [Fungal Meningitis] Outbreak Select CDC food safety publications April 2013 Attribution The authors conducted an analysis to attribute STEC O157 infections to sources, and conclude that 27% and 15% of infections were attributed to a source in 1996 and 1999, respectively. Attributing sporadic and outbreak-associated infections to sources: blending epidemiological data Foodborne Disease Outbreaks This article reports that from 1998–2008, 1,229 foodborne outbreaks caused by B. cereus, C. perfringens, and S. aureus were reported in the US; 39% were reported with a confirmed etiology. Foodborne Disease Outbreaks caused by Bacillus cereus, Clostridium perfringens, and Staphylococcus aureus, United States, 1998-2008 Salmonella This article uses FoodNet data to conclude that Black infants had a greater risk of salmonellosis and invasive disease than other racial group between 1996 and 2008. Epidemiology of Infant Salmonellosis in the United States, 1996–2008: A Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network Study Trends in Foodborne Illness The annual report on Trends in Foodborne Illness in the US (1996-2012) shows that Salmonella and Campylobacter have the highest incidence per 100,000 in 2012. Incidence and Trends of Infection with Pathogens Transmitted Commonly Through Food — Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network, 10 U.S. Sites, 1996–2012 Looking for more CDC food safety publications? Search the CDC Stacks, an online repository of free, full-text CDC publications. Click here to search the CDC Stacks. Outbreaks! CDC tracked two multistate outbreaks of foodborne illness during April: Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O121 Infections Linked to Farm Rich Brand Frozen Food Products Salmonella Saintpaul Infections Linked to Imported Cucumbers New Web Resources  New website: Integrated Food Safety Centers of Excellence --The new Integrated Food Safety Centers of Excellence website showcases 5 regional Center locations around the United States. The Centers identify and evaluate best practices for foodborne disease surveillance and outbreak investigation then share this knowledge in response to the Food Safety Modernization Act. 2012 FoodNet data and resources The Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet) annual report card is now live! See the digital press kit and CDC.gov feature for more details. FoodNet is a collaborative surveillance system in 10 sites covering about 15% of the U.S. population. Online resources --A new trends page highlights the 2012 FoodNet data and includes a PDF fact sheet of the information. --The 2012 preliminary data (tables and figures) illustrates incidence trends, hospitalizations, and case fatality ratios. --The Campylobacter page was updated to reflect 2012 data.  --A new Questions and Answers page provides information about the report, specific infections, and other details. Other CDC resources Press release, media advisory, press briefing transcript Stories from the Field --A new resource on Public Health Practice Stories from the Field features success stories from state trainings to improve foodborne disease outbreak response. Click here for previous newsletters