The outbreak data provide information on specific foods implicated in human illness and complement FoodNet data on individual illnesses. Together, these data indicate that additional prevention measures are needed throughout the food chain. FoodNet data shows declines for several foodborne diseases under surveillance. This indicates that progress is being made towards reducing the marked burden of foodborne illness. Nonetheless, more work needs to be done.
Poultry is the most common source of Campylobacter infections.
Rates for the most common serotype, Salmonella Typhimurium, remained constant. Rates for Salmonella Enteritidis, the second most common serotype, frequently associated with eggs, continued a several year decline. In mid-January, CDC received reports of unexplained deaths in Los Santos Province, Panama. Flooding, following these rains, may have increased the rodent population around homes. A team of researchers from CDC, the Panamanian Ministry of Health, the Gorgas Commemorative Institute for Health Studies, and the Pan-American Health Organization are currently in Panama conducting the outbreak investigation.