Media Releases
OzFood Net: Enhancing foodborne disease surveillance across Australia
In the first quarter of 2001, 27 outbreaks that were potentially related to food poisoning were reported to OzFoodNet sites around Australia, according to the quarterly report of OzFoodNet, published in the latest edition of Communicable Diseases Intelligence (CDI).
30 September 2001
CDI 01/01
OzFood Net: Enhancing foodborne disease surveillance across Australia
In the first quarter of 2001, 27 outbreaks that were potentially related to food poisoning were reported to OzFoodNet sites around Australia, according to the quarterly report of OzFoodNet, published in the latest edition of Communicable Diseases Intelligence (CDI).
The CDI is the official publication of the Communicable Diseases Network of Australia (CDNA), produced by the Federal Department of Health and Aged Care.
According to the OzFoodNet sites report, the food outbreaks affected approximately 402 people of whom 28 were hospitalised. Some of these outbreaks were associated with previously recognised high-risk foods or food preparations and should have been preventable.
An example of this was a small family cluster of rudderfish diarrhoea that occurred in the Hunter area of NSW. Similar outbreaks of rudderfish diarrhoea have previously occurred in Victoria and SA.
During the quarter, the Queensland OzFoodNet site reported a small cluster of three cases of Campylobacter infection that were associated with a chicken kebab shop. This was the third small outbreak of Campylobacter associated with take-away kebab shops in the last two years.
According to the report, these infections are easily prevented providing proprietors cook the meat thoroughly, monitor the internal temperature of the meat and handle food correctly.
In the first quarter of 2001, Campylobacter was the most commonly notified enteric pathogen with 3056 cases reported to all OzFoodNet sites, except for NSW where campylobacteriosis is not a notifiable disease.
According to Martyn Kirk, coordinating epidemiologist with OzFoodNet, the OzFoodNet network has only recently been established by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care's Food Safety and Surveillance Section but has developed into an extensive network of foodborne disease specialists.
"This has the potential to benefit investigations of foodborne disease that cross state and territory boundaries," he said.
"OzFoodNet aims to provide a better estimate of foodborne disease incidence in Australia and will work to improve investigations and control efforts."
The August edition of the CDI is available on the internet at: www.health.gov.au/pubhlth/cdi/cdicur.htm
Media contacts: Neil Branch, Communicable Diseases Network Australia, 0412 258 449
