Defra Publishes Zoonoses UK Report 2007

UK - The 2007 Zoonoses Report will be launched at the “Orphan Zoonoses Conference” in Glasgow. Zoonoses are diseases and infections which are transmitted naturally between animals and humans.

10 October 2008

2 minute read

Europe

The report brings together data and information published from various sources throughout 2007 and draws on information from humans, food, feed and animals, providing comparable data from previous years.

It covers the major food and water-borne zoonoses (Campylobacter, Salmonella, Vero cytotoxin producing E. coli O157 (VTEC O157)and Cryptosporidium), and the main notifiable zoonotic diseases of animals including bovine tuberculosis, brucellosis, anthrax, rabies, West Nile Virus, BSE and Avian Influenza.

Key areas include:

Campylobacter: In 2007 there was an increase of 10% on the number recorded in 2006, however the recorded figure of 55,590 still shows a general decline in the number of cases in humans.
Salmonella: In 2007, 13,213 laboratory reports of Salmonella in humans were recorded in the UK, a decrease of 6.2% compared to the 14,060 confirmed cases in 2006.
E. Coli VTEC O157: Human cases of VTEC O157 infection fell in the UK by 9.8%in 2007, compared with 2006.
Bovine tuberculosis: There was an increase in both new incidents of bovine tuberculosis in cattle during 2007 and in the number of herds tested.
Lyme borreliosis: Throughout 2007, there was an increase in reports, with seasonal trends similar to those seen in previous years where most cases appear in the months of July, August and September.
Avian Influenza: The finding of H5N1 in a wild swan in Scotland and of low pathogenic avian influenza H7N3 in poultry in Norfolk is also mentioned.
Q fever: A cluster of Q fever cases was identified in 2007, in the Cheltenham area. Despite extensive investigations by the HPA and VLA, no source was identified.