title: [Foodborne disease outbreaks surveillance in Chile].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Foodborne disease outbreaks are one of the main health problems globally, having an extensive impact on human welfare. The World Health Organization considers them as the main cause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries, and responsible for high levels of loss of productivity in developed countries.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the epidemiology of foodborne disease outbreaks according to data contained in an automated surveillance system.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive observational study of notified outbreaks from the surveillance system, between 2005 and 2010 in Chile. The information was based on etiology, temporal and spatial distribution, and epidemiologic description of outbreaks during this period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 5,689 notified outbreaks. Most of them occurred during 2006 (1,106 outbreaks, rate 6.7 per 100,000 inhabitants) and 2008 (1,316 outbreaks, rate 7.9 per 100, 000 inhabitants) with an increase during summer. Fifty four percent occurred in the Metropolitan region. The group aged 15 to 44 years old, was the most affected one. Sixty four percent of the outbreaks had the food involved registered, of which fish and fishery products reached 42%. An 81% of the outbreaks did not have a precise etiologic diagnosis. Of all patients involved, 97% were outpatients, 3,2% were hospitalized patients, and 0,1% died. Only 49% of the outbreaks had information about the lack of food safety, with a 34,1% related to food handling procedures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Through the information on the epidemiology of foodborne diseases obtained by the Chilean surveillance system, appropriate control measures could be taken.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Epidemiología, Ministerio de Salud de Chile, Chile.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Olea
authors.forename: Janepsy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Díaz
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fuentes
authors.forename: Alejandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vaquero
authors.forename: Maritza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: García
mesh_terms: D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D018563:Disease Notification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012307:Risk Factors