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Pathogens and Illness under Surveillance

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OzFoodNet and partner agencies follow up and investigate the following pathogens:

• Campylobacter
• Salmonella
• Typhoid
• Shigella
• Shiga Toxin-producing Eschericia coli
• Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome
• Listeria

State and Territory legislation requires laboratories and doctors to report (notify) infections due to these organisms in a timely fashion. The State of New South Wales does not require notification of Campylobacter infections, except in outbreak settings. There are many other notifiable pathogens that are potentially transmitted by food, such as Hepatitis A, Hepatitis E, Vibrio cholerae, Cryptosporidium, and Giardia. OzFoodNet epidemiologists provide data and interpretation on these illnesses where an association with food is identified.

In addition there are many other aetiological agents that cause foodborne disease and commonly cause outbreaks. Examples of these include: noroviruses, ciguatera, Clostridium perfringens, Staphlycoccus aureus, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Aeromonas spp. These are usually notifiable by law under the category of 'food & waterborne disease'. This allows urgent notification and investigation in outbreak settings. OzFoodNet epidemiologists report fortnightly summaries of clusters investigated, and quarterly data from gastrointestinal disease outbreaks.

Page currency, Latest update: 30 July, 2007