Most foodborne infections declined in Ireland from July to September this year compared to the same period in 2023.
The data comes from a report published by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) that includes foodborne illnesses in the third quarter of 2024.
In the first quarter of 2024, there were 733 Campylobacter cases, five Listeria infections, 67 Salmonella cases, and 116 Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) infections.
In the second quarter of this year, there were 1,320 Campylobacter cases, seven Listeria infections, 94 Salmonella cases, and 262 STEC infections.
From July to September 2024, notifications of Campylobacter, Salmonella, and E. coli decreased while Listeria infections were equal to those reported in the same period in 2023.
A total of 1,024 Campylobacter infections were notified in Q3 2024 compared to 1,057 cases in Q3 2023. Two outbreaks affected five people. Both were family outbreaks in private households. Of 69 sequenced isolates, 58 were Campylobacter jejuni and 10 were Campylobacter coli.
A total of 247 E. coli infections were reported compared to 343 in the same period in 2023. There were 111 people hospitalized and there were 10 cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney disease that sometimes leads to death.
Fifteen outbreaks sickened 60 people. They ranged from two to 18 patients. Four were general outbreaks: two in childcare facilities, and two recreational activity outbreaks. Eleven were classed as family outbreaks. The most common serogroups reported among culture confirmed cases were O26, O157, and O145.
Listeria and Salmonella
Six cases of listeriosis were recorded in Q3 2024 which is the same as in Q3 2023. Four were adult or juvenile cases and two were pregnancy related or neonatal cases.
There were no outbreaks but two isolates that were genetically related to other isolates were identified and investigated further.
Overall, 133 cases of salmonellosis were reported in Q3 2024, down from 150 in Q3 2023.
Of 97 cases for which travel history was known, 49 percent were travel-associated, and 51 percent were domestically acquired. An association with travel was more common among Salmonella Enteritidis cases.
Two outbreaks sickened 16 people. One was caused by the consumption of duck eggs and the other was linked to travel to Portugal.
A total of 76 cases of cryptosporidiosis were reported in Q3 2024, much lower than the 239 in 2023, and more similar to this period in previous years. There were 22 travel-related cases. Four outbreaks affected nine people.
Hepatitis A cases fell from 19 to 15 in Q3 2024. Three family outbreaks were recorded and one was associated with international travel. Hepatitis E cases rose from 13 to 14. Most patients were between 25 and 64 years old but one was under the age of 10. The quarter also saw the first case of infant botulism since 2014.
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