title: Foodborne botulism in Poland in 2111.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The main objective of this article is to assess the epidemiology of foodborne botulism in Poland in 2011, using national surveillance data.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed surveillance data published in the annual bulletin "Infectious diseases and poisonings in Poland" from 2005 to 2011, and botulism case reports from 2011 sent to the Department of Epidemiology NIPH-NIH by Sanitary-Epidemiological Stations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 2011, a total of 35 foodborne botulism cases (including 21 laboratory confirmed cases) was reported, corresponding to the one of the lowest annual incidence rate (0.09 per 100,000 population) since the introduction of botulism as mandatory notifiable disease. The higher incidence rates compared to the previous year were in the Warmińsko-Mazurskie, Kujawsko-Pomorskie, Lubelskie, Podkarpackie, Mazowieckie and Dolnoślaskie. Incidence in rural areas (0.13 per 100,000 population) was higher than the incidence in urban areas (0.07). Men, had more than 3,5 times higher incidence than women; the highest incidence rate (0.23 per 100,000 population) was observed among men in the age group of 60 + years. Most cases were associated with consumption of commercially canned meat (including pork and other types of meat). Home canned foods containing meats or vegetables and meats were also a common vehicle. Almost all cases were hospitalized (33 cases). One death related to the disease was reported.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In 2011, in Poland epidemiology of the foodborne botulism remains stable. From the point of view of national surveillance, it is necessary to increase the percentage of cases investigated with laboratory tests.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, National Institute of Public Health - National Institute of Hygiene, Warsaw. mczerwinski@pzh.gov.pl
authors.forename: Michał
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Czerwiński
authors.forename: Mirosław P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Czarkowski
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kondej
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001906:Botulism / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005516:Food Microbiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008461:Meat Products / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000506:poisoning; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012042:Registries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data