Listeriosis cases in Europe have reached their highest peak since 2007, with an increase in outbreaks linked to smoked salmon and other ready-to-eat foods. This is what emerges from the annual “One Health” report by EFSA and ECDC
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In 2023, Listeriosis cases in the European Union have reached their highest peak since 2007marking a worrying increase. This is the data that emerges from the EU’s annual “One Health” report, edited by EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) and ECDC (European Center for Disease Prevention and Control), which analyzes zoonotic diseases in the European area.
Listeriosis, caused by the bacterium Listeria monocytogenesis a major threat related to the consumption of contaminated food, with particularly serious implications for older people and those with chronic diseases.
A problem that returns cyclically, with a series of more or less extensive cases and outbreaks, reported in various European countries and often linked to the consumption of smoked (therefore raw) salmon.
Data on Listeriosis
In 2023, 2,952 cases of listeriosis were recorded, a significant increase compared to previous years, with a trend that has been growing since 2019.
This peak, experts explain, could be linked to the aging of the European population, given that 21.3% of Europeans are over 65 years old. In fact, aging brings with it an increase in chronic diseases which increase the risk of serious forms of listeriosis.
Ready-to-eat foods (RTE), such as smoked salmon, processed meat and dairy products are the most common sources of infectionwith contamination percentages ranging from 0.11% to 0.78%.
Other zoonotic diseases are also on the rise
In addition to listeriosis, zoonotic diseases, i.e. those transmissible from animals to humans, are on the rise in the European Union.
Campylobacteriosis and salmonellosis were the most frequently reported diseases in 2022, and the numbers continued to grow in 2023. Notably, campylobacteriosis cases increased from 139,225 in 2022 to 148,181 in 2023, while salmonellosis increased from 65,478 to 77,486 cases in the same period.
These data highlight a worrying trend of increasing gastrointestinal infections, particularly among the most vulnerable people, such as the elderly and those with compromised immune systems.
In 2023, 5,691 foodborne infectious outbreaks were reported, a slight decrease compared to the previous year, but with an increase in hospitalizations and deaths. Salmonella outbreaks have been the most severe, with eggs and chicken meat as the main sources of contamination.
Advanced surveillance, such as whole genome sequencing, has improved the ability to detect and track these outbreaks, but the increase in severe cases highlights the need to further strengthen prevention measures.
