A beef-associated outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium DT104 in The Netherlands with implications for national and international policy

Abstract

A ten-fold increase in Salmonella Typhimurium DT104 cases in The Netherlands during September-November 2005 prompted an outbreak investigation. A population-based matched case-control study included 56 cases and 100 controls. Risk factors for infection were consumption of a pre-processed raw beef product (odds ratio 4.2, 95% confidence interval 1.5-12.0) and of food from mobile caterers (odds ratio 4.9, 95% confidence interval 1.1-22.1). Bacterial molecular typing established a link with another DT104 outbreak in Denmark caused by beef from a third European country. The incriminated beef was traced in The Netherlands and sampling yielded DT104 of the outbreak-associated molecular type. We concluded that this outbreak was caused by imported contaminated beef. Consumers should be informed about presence of raw meat in pre-processed food products. Optimal utilization of international networks and testing and traceability of foodstuffs has the potential to prevent foodborne infections.

Tracing the sources of human salmonellosis: A multi-model comparison of phenotyping and genotyping methods

“…As a final point, infections with SE have decreased substantially in recent years (RIVM, 2013), whereas those with ST mv have emerged quickly and those with ST remained relatively stable during the last decade (RIVM, 2013), with some major outbreaks detected Kivi et al, 2007, Kivi et al, 2005van Duynhoven et al, 2009;Whelan et al, 2010). It is then increasingly important to provide public health surveillance with suitable data targets and analytical tools to differentiate the sources of Salmonella within these serovars.…”

National outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium (Dutch) phage-type 132 in the Netherlands, October to December 2009

“…This is the fourth food-borne outbreak in recent years linked to consumption of steak tartare and other raw beef products in the Netherlands [10][11][12]. In 2006 to 2008, despite intensive monitoring and control programmes, Salmonella was still found in-store in raw meats (such as steak tartare and ossenworst) intended for direct consumption [13].…”

Sources of human non-typhoid salmonellosis: a review

“…Typhimurium DT 104 cases in the Netherlands (Kivi et al, 2007). These occurrences were found to be epidemiologically associated with the disease in Denmark.…”