OzFoodNet: enhancing foodborne disease surveillance across Australia: Quarterly report, July to September 2001

Abstract

This third quarterly report of OzFoodNet summarises the incidence of foodborne disease in the 6 States of Australia and specific foodborne outbreaks identified between July and September 2001. During the third quarter of 2001, Australia experienced an outbreak of Salmonella Stanley. The CDNA requested that OzFoodNet coordinate the national investigation, which identified contaminated peanuts from China as the food vehicle. The investigation also alerted health authorities in Canada and the United Kingdom to human cases of salmonellosis associated with the same brand of peanuts. Salmonella Typhimurium phage type 126 also emerged as a national problem during the quarter. In September 2001, OzFoodNet began a national survey to estimate the incidence of diarrhoeal disease, and a pilot of the national case control study into Campylobacter infections. During this quarter, the Australian Capital Territory joined OzFoodNet and the Northern Territory participated as an observer. Data are only included for the Territories where specified.