Effect of prevention measures on incidence of human listeriosis, France, 1987-1997. |
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Authors: | V Goulet H de Valk O Pierre F Stainer J Rocourt V Vaillant C Jacquet J C Desenclos |
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Affiliation: | Department of Infectious Diseases, Institut de Veille Sanitaire, Saint-Maurice, France. v.goulet@invs.sante.fr |
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Abstract: | To assess the impact of preventive measures by the food industry, we analyzed food monitoring data as well as trends in the incidence of listeriosis estimated through three independent sources: the National Reference Center of Listeriosis; a laboratory-based active surveillance network; and two consecutive nationwide surveys of public hospital laboratories. From 1987 to 1997, the incidence of listeriosis decreased by an estimated 68%. A substantial reduction in the proportion of Listeria monocytogenes-contaminated products was observed at the retail level. The temporal relationship between prevention measures by the food industry, reduction in L. monocytogenes-contaminated foodstuffs, and reduction in listeriosis incidence suggests a causal relationship and indicates that a substantial part of the reduction in illness is related to prevention efforts. |
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