Marked Campylobacteriosis Decline after Interventions Aimed at Poultry, New Zealand

Abstract

Beginning in the early 1980s, New Zealand experienced rising annual rates of campylobacteriosis that peaked in 2006. We analyzed notification, hospitalization, and other data to explore the 2007-2008 drop in campylobacteriosis incidence. Source attribution techniques based on genotyping of Campylobacter jejuni isolates from patients and environmental sources were also used to examine the decline. In 2008, the annual campylobacteriosis notification rate was 161.5/100,000 population, representing a 54% decline compared with the average annual rate of 353.8/100,000 for 2002-2006. A similar decline was seen for hospitalizations. Source attribution findings demonstrated a 74% (95% credible interval 49%-94%) reduction in the number of cases attributed to poultry. These reductions coincided with the introduction of a range of voluntary and regulatory interventions to reduce Campylobacter spp. contamination of poultry. The apparent success of these interventions may inform approaches other countries could consider to help control foodborne campylobacteriosis. Campylobacteriosis is a common bacterial gastroenteritis reported in New Zealand and many other industrialized countries, with most cases caused by Campylobacter jejuni (1,2). Campylobacteriosis has been a notifiable disease in New Zealand since 1980, and medical practitioners are required to report confirmed or suspected cases to their local public health Key Informant Interviews and Policy Review Key informants (n = 12), including industry and food safety experts, were interviewed to obtain information on interventions implemented to reduce Campylobacter spp. contamination in