Control strategies for Salmonella enteritidis in five countries

Abstract

World Health Organization (WHO) surveillance data on human salmonellosis for 1979–1987 indicate that Salmonella enteritidis (SE) isolation rates are increasing in the Americas and Europe. SE outbreak investigations indicate a strong 3ssociation between the consumption of raw or lightly cooked eggs and human illness. Summaries are presented of programmes to control SE in egg production for five nations: Canada, the Netherlands, Sweden, the UK and the USA. These nations were selected because they had established Salmonella surveillance systems and different rates of SE infection. Although all five nations instituted controls for SE at three principal points in egg production (poultry feed, breeding flocks and egg production), the programmes have distinct characteristics. For context, data obtained from the WHO on reported SE isolates in humans in each of these nations are presented. SE control programmes were influenced by the human isolation rate, government funding and industry support. SE programmes in the five nations are becoming more alike, in that cooperative efforts between government and throughout industry are being promoted. Motivation to establish non-regulatory controls for SE is strengthened by regulatory controls that are available if needed.