The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has held two meetings recently looking at chemicals in water and the use of foresight in food safety.
The water quality meeting was organized by FAO and the World Health Organization (WHO). The event in May was attended by 11
Continue Reading FAO makes progress on water quality and foresight work
A review of food and waterborne parasites in Kenya has highlighted gaps in surveillance, which researchers say means there is limited data to help inform public health interventions.
In Kenya, the prevalence of intestinal infections is high due to the warm tropical climate and socioeconomic factors.
A scoping review evaluated
Continue Reading Study highlights lack of parasite data in Kenya
The World Health Organization (WHO) has published a series of documents covering the relevance of a range of pathogens in water.
The background documents will inform the revision of WHO guidelines for drinking water quality and on sanitation and health. Examples of agents covered are Cyclospora, Salmonella, Toxoplasma gondii, Yersinia
Continue Reading WHO assesses relevance of pathogens in water
At least 100 people fell ill in Greece recently with contaminated water suspected as the source.
The Hellenic National Public Health Organization (EODY) said an increased incidence of gastroenteritis cases was observed in late May in residents of the areas of Rizomylos and Stefanovikiou, Magnesia.
A total of 100 cases
Continue Reading Greece dealing with Salmonella outbreak; Listeria increase
At least 46 cryptosporidium infections have been confirmed in England linked to contaminated water.
Torbay Council, South West Water, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), NHS Devon and the Environment Agency are investigating the outbreak. There have been around another 100 reported cases of diarrhea and vomiting.
South West Water
Continue Reading Cryptosporidium outbreak affects dozens in England
Public health officials have determined that an outbreak of E. coli infections in a Utah city were caused by untreated municipal irrigation water.
In July through September 2023, there were 13 children confirmed with infections. Seven of the patients required hospitalization and two developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a type of
Continue Reading Investigators determine that E. coli outbreak was caused by untreated home irrigation water
A senator has called for the creation of an agency to deal with public health after almost 3,000 people fell ill in the Philippines.
Senator Win Gatchalian is co-author of the Philippine Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) Act, which seeks to create such an agency. The proposed center
Continue Reading Outbreak prompts call to create a CDC in the Philippines
Almost 1,000 people fell ill in a Campylobacter and Sapovirus outbreak in China in 2021, according to a recently released study.
The outbreak involved 996 patients and had two peaks over a 17 day period. Through case-control studies, scientists identified exposure to water from a secondary water supply system as
Continue Reading Large Campylobacter and Sapovirus outbreak in China linked to water
Eight times since 2017, growers of leafy greens, especially those producing Romaine lettuce, have been rocked by outbreaks of E. coli O157:H7. The pathogen associated with the intestines of cows rode in on the greens, causing sicknesses, sending people to hospitals for treatment of kidney ailment, and, oh yes
Continue Reading There’s a break in leafy green outbreaks, but work to eliminate them forever continues
Encouraging news about progress in the ongoing battle against antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is highlighted in a landmark report recently released by the World Organisation for Animal Health.
This comes at an especially good time with Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week running from Nov. 18-24. It has been held every November since
Continue Reading Preventing foodborne illnesses can help keep super bugs at bay