Maurizio Ferri
Società Italiana di Medicina Veterinaria Preventiva, Italy
Title: The EU public health impact of Campylobacter spp. human infection and the EU control strategy in the poultry meat sector
Biography
Biography: Maurizio Ferri
Abstract
Campylobacter is the leading cause of zoonotic enteric infections worldwide and the most frequent foodborne pathogen in the European Union (EU). Due to a significant increasing trend of human cases in the EU Member states over the last eight years, Campylobacter is becoming a serious public health problem with associated economic cost and have drawn a great attention of the EU decision- makers. Epidemiological studies and molecular subtyping investigations have identified poultry as main reservoir of Campylobacter and poultry meat as a major source of human infection. Among the different control measures to reduce the prevalence of the pathogen throughout the broiler farm-to-fork continuum and the incidence of human infection, the adoption of a food microbiological criteria to be applied at slaughter and decontamination treatment of poultry carcases have seriously been considered by the EU Commission. The presentation provides an overview of the etiology, epidemiology and newly proposed control options of Campylobacter in the broiler meat chain as proposed by EFSA and highlights the public health importance of the un integrated and holistic approach according to one health concept to reduce the pathogen prevalence starting at poultry farm level followed by further measures later in the poultry chain and to reduce the human incidence. In addition, the need to streamline awareness campaigns aimed to prevent unhygienic practices and food cross-contamination at consumer’s home is underlined.