[Foodborne infections and intoxications in Poland in 2004]

A total of 19 870 bacterial foodborne infections and intoxications were registered in 2004 (incidence 52.0/100,000 population). These illnesses were less incident in 2004, compared both to 2003 figure (20 221 cases) and the median 1998-2002 (26 734 cases). Unlike bacterial infections, the incidence of viral foodborne infections increased in the recent years (2004 - 27.2 vs. 2003 -21.1 and median 1998-2002 - 10.0). The parasitic foodborne infections did not change much during the recent years. A total of 156 cases of mushroom poisonings were reported (incidence 0,4) in 2004, compared to 78 cases in 2003, 66 cases in 2002 and a median of 223 cases in 1998-2001 (incidence 0.6). There were 13 deaths related to foodborne infections or intoxications registered in 2004, of which the following etiologic agents were established: Salmonella Enteritidis (2) Clostridium botulinum (2), Streptococcus aureus (1), other bacteria (6), and E. multilocularis infestation (2). A total of 347 foodborne and waterborne outbreaks involving 5 920 cases were reported in 2004 (only outbreaks involving 4 persons or more). The most prevalent etiological factors in outbreaks were Salmonella strains (50.0% of cases), Staphylococcus aureus (6.5% of cases) and Escherichia coli (4.6% of cases). In 28% of outbreaks involving 31.2% cases no etiological factor was established. The most prevalent Salmonella strain were S. Enteritidis (95,1% cases) and S. Typhimurium (1.7%). The main vehicle of foodborne and waterborne outbreaks were meals prepared from various (>2) raw materials of animal sources (33.1% of cases) and meals from eggs (20.3%). Of the places of food contamination, the most prevalent were own apartments (24.8% of outbreaks), food producing farms (8,1%), and restaurants (8,1%). The three largest outbreaks (two caused by S. Enteritidis and one by S. aureus) involved 576 cases, of which 26 were hospitalized.