Author Archives: KSW

Eurosurveillance

In 2018, food-borne disease (FBD) was estimated to be responsible for 2.4 million cases of illness and more than 16,000 hospitalisations per year in the United Kingdom (UK) [1], with revised estimates indicating ca 180 deaths annually in the UK arising from exposure to 11 key pathogens [2]. The estimated annual cost from these illnesses is EUR 10.5 billion (GBP 9 billion) [3], with far-reaching impacts on health providers, industry and individuals.

Food for human consumption can become contaminated at any stage of food production, delivery, storage or preparation, and can involve contamination from environmental, human or animal sources [4–6], making identification of sources and pathways of pathogens responsible for FBD outbreaks a complex process. Furthermore, there is currently no fully integrated framework in the UK for the monitoring and surveillance of FBD, causing difficulty in the prediction and delay in the mitigation of outbreaks.

In 2022, a series of programmes was launched under HM Treasury Shared Outcomes Fund, one of which, Pathogen Surveillance in Agriculture, Food and Environment (PATH-SAFE) [7], aimed to pilot a better national surveillance programme for FBD and antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Pilot studies carried out under PATH-SAFE focused on norovirus, Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella spp., identified by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) as being among the top five priority pathogens of concern with respect to FBD outbreaks [8], along with Escherichia coli, used as an indicator organism for faecal contamination.

To present the findings and discuss the challenges, needs and opportunities for implementing a successful national biosurveillance programme, the Centre for Environment, Food and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) and Bangor University hosted a workshop at the Royal Institution, London, on 31 January 2024. Stakeholders with a range of interests in pathogens implicated in FBD and AMR were invited to contribute their views and recommendations on how best to achieve the desired outcomes for an effective national surveillance framework. Participants from diverse roles (scientists, decisionmakers, public health analysts, policy advisors) across government, academia and charities attended the event.

The first part of the workshop was devoted to presentations of work carried out under the pilot studies, including a combined poster and networking session. For the second part of the workshop, participants were guided into breakout groups to participate in discussions on “Surveillance and management of microbiological risks: gaps & limitations, knowledge & perceptions, approaches & opportunities”.

This workshop was a collaboration across disciplines with participants from multiple organisations: Declan Power (Animal & Plant Health Agency); Jaime Martinez-Urtaza (Universitat Autonòma de Barcelona); Davey Jones, Kata Farkas, Reshma Silvester (Bangor University); Andrew Weightman (Cardiff University); Craig Baker-Austin, David Haverson, David Walker, Richard Heal (Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science); Steve Morris (Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs); Edward Haynes (Fera Science Ltd); Anthony J. Wilson (Food Standards Agency); K. Marie McIntyre (Newcastle University); Mandy Wootton (NHS Wales); Ellie Brown (Ribble Rivers Trust); Oliver Pybus (Royal Veterinary College); Rob Collins (The Rivers Trust); Andrew Singer (UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology); Matthew Wade (UK Health Security Agency); Edel Light (Veterinary Medicines Directorate).