Friday, 12 August 2016
In the ROI, Campylobacter is the leading cause of bacterial gastroenteritis, while Salmonella is the second most common cause.
Campylobacter and Salmonella account for a large proportion of human gastrointestinal illnesses worldwide. In 2011, there were 2,427 and 311 reported cases of campylobacteriosis and salmonellosis, respectively in the ROI. Underreporting of gastrointestinal illness is well recognised and the true incidence for both pathogens is likely to be significantly greater.
The aim of this survey was to determine the prevalence of Campylobacter and Salmonella in raw chicken on retail sale in the Republic of Ireland at the time of year when contamination was expected to be highest (June to August).
This survey shows that poultry meat remains a significant source of Campylobacter and emphasises the importance of implementing control measures, in order to reduce the level of ontamination to which consumers are exposed.
