Increased listeriosis
There has been concern in the UK over the increase in notified listeriosis especially in the elderly so I was interested to read the Eurosurveillance report on increase in listeriosis in Denmark. One of the major problems with monitoring listeriosis is the incubation period of 80 days. Could you remember what you had eaten in the last eighty days? This impacts on the ability to identify the source of the outbreak.
Eurosurveillance highlights that "the three major clinical presentations of listeriosis are sepsis, meningitis and materno-fetal infection and that in a review of materno-fetal infections in Denmark 12 of 36 cases resulted in stillbirth and/or abortion.... In 2009, Denmark saw a further increase in the incidence of listeriosis, reaching 1.8 per 100,000 inhabitants".
In 2009, 97 cases of listeriosis were reported in Denmark, compared to 57 in 2008. Consumption of ready to eat meat and fish has been suggested as potential sources of listeria but there was no definitive evidence to support this (i.e. positive identification in associated food products). The research will continue.
Eurosurveillance highlights that "the three major clinical presentations of listeriosis are sepsis, meningitis and materno-fetal infection and that in a review of materno-fetal infections in Denmark 12 of 36 cases resulted in stillbirth and/or abortion.... In 2009, Denmark saw a further increase in the incidence of listeriosis, reaching 1.8 per 100,000 inhabitants".
In 2009, 97 cases of listeriosis were reported in Denmark, compared to 57 in 2008. Consumption of ready to eat meat and fish has been suggested as potential sources of listeria but there was no definitive evidence to support this (i.e. positive identification in associated food products). The research will continue.
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