Impact of COVID-19 on foodborne illness in Africa – A perspective piece

Global outbreaks of foodborne hepatitis A: Systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Inadequate information on foodborne illness has been identified as a major concern in food safety among low-income countries [ 55 ]. Sex did not significantly affect the hospitalization rate among foodborne HAV-infected patients.…”

Concurrent emergencies: overlapping Salmonella and COVID-19 concerns in public health strategies and preparedness

“…The many serotypes of Salmonella , all of which are regarded as pathogens, can be attributed to variations in their virulence mechanisms, the intensity of the resulting sickness, and their ability to adapt to different hosts ( 16 , 17 ). Consequently, this bacterium causes a diverse array of infections ( 18 , 19 ), ranging from mild gastroenteritis to more severe systemic disorders including bacteremia and typhoid fever ( 4 , 20 ). A Salmonella infection commonly manifests gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, constipation, and diarrhea.…”

“…The pandemic has not only disrupted PHC services, but also exposed vulnerabilities in other public sectors, including infrastructures, supply chains, government preparation and actions, human capital, and public health systems. The pandemic had a substantial impact on people's behavior connected to food and the adoption of safety protocols ( 4 , 12 ). The implementation of improved sanitation practices, such as regular hand washing, maintaining social distance as well as face mask and hand gloves, has had a substantial impact in reducing the spread of foodborne illnesses, including Salmonella infections.…”

“…Salmonella survives in different habitats and overcomes barriers that affect how the disease develops, its severity, and how it interacts with the host. It leads to the emergence of Salmonella strains with the remarkable capacity to induce a range of health problems ( 4 ).…”

“…Additionally, it is essential to note that the immunological response that SARS-CoV-2 elicits may have affected the severity of bacterial infections like Salmonella ( 10 ). These factors were later identified to have severe implications for the occurrence and management of Salmonella infections ( 4 , 11 , 12 ).…”