title: Enhancing foodborne disease surveillance across Australia in 2001: the OzFoodNet Working Group.
abstract: In 2000, the OzFoodNet network was established to enhance surveillance of foodborne diseases across Australia. OzFoodNet consists of 7 sites and covers 68 per cent of Australia's population. During 2001, sites reported 15,815 cases of campylobacteriosis, 6,607 cases of salmonellosis, 326 cases of shigellosis, 71 cases of yersiniosis, 61 cases of listeriosis, 47 cases of shiga-toxin producing E. coli and 5 cases of haemolytic uraemic syndrome. Sites reported 86 foodborne outbreaks affecting 1,768 people, of whom 4.0 per cent (70/1,768) were hospitalised and one person died. There was a wide range of foods implicated in these outbreaks and the most common agent was S. Typhimurium. Sites reported two international outbreaks; one of multi-drug resistant S. Typhimurium Definitive Type 104 due to helva imported from Turkey, and one of S. Stanley associated with dried peanuts from China. The National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health conducted a national survey of gastroenteritis. Preliminary data from interviews of 2,417 people suggests that the incidence of foodborne illness is significantly higher than previously thought. OzFoodNet initiated case control studies into risk factors for Campylobacter, Salmonella, Listeria, and shiga-toxin producing E. coli. OzFoodNet developed a foodborne disease outbreak register for Australia; established a network of laboratories to type Campylobacter; prepared a survey of pathology laboratories; reviewed Australian data on listeriosis; and assessed the usefulness of sentinel surveillance for gastroenteritis. This program of enhanced surveillance has demonstrated its capacity to nationally investigate and determine the causes of foodborne disease.
authors.affiliation: Tasmanian Department of Health and Human Services, Hobart.
authors.forename: Rosie
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ashbolt
authors.forename: Rod
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Givney
authors.forename: Joy E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Gregory
authors.forename: Gillian
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hundy
authors.forename: Martyn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kirk
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: McKay
authors.forename: Lynn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Meuleners
authors.forename: Geoff
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Millard
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Raupach
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Roche
authors.forename: Nittita
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Prasopa-Plaizier
authors.forename: Mohinder K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Sama
authors.forename: Russell
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stafford
authors.forename: Nola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tomaska
authors.forename: Leanne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Unicomb
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002169:Campylobacter Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018563:Disease Notification / Q000592:standards*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004405:Dysentery, Bacillary / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D005516:Food Microbiology; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014943:Global Health; D006463:Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008088:Listeriosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012307:Risk Factors; D012480:Salmonella Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012621:Seasons; D015009:Yersinia Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control