Foodborne botulism outbreak involving different nationalities during the Rugby World Cup: critical role of credit card data and rapid international cooperation, France, September 2023.

In September 2023, a severe outbreak of type B botulism with fifteen cases was linked to consumption of canned sardines at a restaurant in Bordeaux, France, during the Rugby World Cup. The cases were from seven countries. One death was recorded.

A large travel-associated outbreak of iatrogenic botulism in four European countries following intragastric botulinum neurotoxin injections for weight reduction, Türkiye, February to March 2023.

In March 2023, 34 associated cases of iatrogenic botulism were detected in Germany (30 cases), Switzerland (two cases), Austria (one case), and France (one case). An alert was rapidly disseminated via European Union networks and communication platforms (Food- and Waterborne Diseases and Zoonoses Network, EpiPulse, Early Warning and Response System) and the International Health Regulation mechanism; the outbreak was investigated in a European collaboration. We traced sources of the botulism outbreak to treatment of weight loss in Türkiye, involving intragastric injections of botulinum neurotoxin.

Countrywide multi-serotype outbreak of Bovismorbificans ST142 and monophasic Typhimurium ST34 associated with dried pork sausages in France, September 2020* to January 2021.

The French National Reference Centre for and (FNRC-ESS) detected two human clusters of 33 cases (median age: 10 years; 17 females) infected by serotype Bovismorbificans, ST142, HC5_243255 (EnteroBase HierCC‑cgMLST scheme) in September-November 2020 and of 11 cases (median age: 11 years; seven males) infected by serotype 4,12:i:-, ST34, HC5_198125 in October-December 2020. Epidemiological investigations conducted by Santé publique France linked these outbreaks to the consumption of dried pork sausages from the same manufacturer.  Bovismorbificans and  4,12:i:- were isolated by the National Reference Laboratory from different food samples, but both strains were identified in a single food sample only by qPCR.

Human and animal botulism surveillance in France from 2008 to 2019.

Botulism is a human and animal neurological disease caused by the action of bacterial neurotoxins (botulinum toxins) produced by bacteria from the genus . This disease induces flaccid paralysis that can result in respiratory paralysis and heart failure. Due to its serious potential impact on public health, botulism is a closely monitored notifiable disease in France through a case-based passive surveillance system.

Epidemiology of acute gastroenteritis in France from November 2019-August 2021, in light of reported adherence to COVID-19 barrier measures.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, French health authorities have encouraged barrier measures and implemented three lockdowns to slow SARS-CoV-2 transmission. We aimed to examine the impact of these measures on the epidemiology of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in France, from November 2019 to August 2021. We describe trends in AGE indicators from syndromic surveillance and a sentinel surveillance network.

Investigation of an international outbreak of multidrug-resistant monophasic Typhimurium associated with chocolate products, EU/EEA and United Kingdom, February to April 2022.

An extensive multi-country outbreak of multidrug-resistant monophasic Typhimurium infection in 10 countries with 150 reported cases, predominantly affecting young children, has been linked to chocolate products produced by a large multinational company. Extensive withdrawals and recalls of multiple product lines have been undertaken. With Easter approaching, widespread product distribution and the vulnerability of the affected population, early and effective real-time sharing of microbiological and epidemiological information has been of critical importance in effectively managing this serious food-borne incident.

Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica Welikade: guideline for phylogenetic analysis of serovars rarely involved in foodborne outbreaks.

Background: Salmonella spp. is a major foodborne pathogen with a wide variety of serovars associated with human cases and food sources. Nevertheless, in Europe a panel of ten serovars is responsible for up to 80% of confirmed human cases.

A common framework for using and reporting consumer purchase data (CPD) in foodborne outbreak investigations in Europe.

Consumer purchase data (CPD) can be a powerful tool in the investigation of foodborne outbreaks through analyses of electronic records of food that individuals buy. The objective of this study was to develop a common framework for use of CPD in foodborne outbreak investigations using the expertise of European public health professionals from 11 European countries. We also aimed to describe barriers and limitations preventing CPD utilization.

Whole Genome Analysis Detects the Emergence of a Single Serovar Chester Clone in Japan's Kanto Region.

In Japan's Kanto region, the number of serovar Chester infections increased temporarily between 2014 and 2016. Concurrently with this temporal increase in the Kanto region, . Chester isolates belonging to one clonal group were causing repetitive outbreaks in Europe.

Critical Orientation in the Jungle of Currently Available Methods and Types of Data for Source Attribution of Foodborne Diseases.

With increased interest in source attribution of foodborne pathogens, there is a need to sort and assess the applicability of currently available methods. Herewith we reviewed the most frequently applied methods for source attribution of foodborne diseases, discussing their main strengths and weaknesses to be considered when choosing the most appropriate methods based on the type, quality, and quantity of data available, the research questions to be addressed, and the (epidemiological and microbiological) characteristics of the pathogens in question. A variety of source attribution approaches have been applied in recent years.

Outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing (STEC) O26 paediatric haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) cases associated with the consumption of soft raw cow's milk cheeses, France, March to May 2019.

We report an outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing (STEC) associated paediatric haemolytic uraemic syndrome linked to the consumption of raw cow's milk soft cheeses. From 25 March to 27 May 2019, 16 outbreak cases infected with STEC O26 (median age: 22 months) were identified. Interviews and trace-back investigations using loyalty cards identified the consumption of raw milk cheeses from a single producer.

Outbreak of serotype Poona in infants linked to persistent contamination in an infant formula manufacturing facility, France, August 2018 to February 2019.

We describe a Poona outbreak involving 31 infant cases in France. Following outbreak detection on 18 January 2019, consumption of rice-based infant formula manufactured at a facility in Spain was identified as the probable cause, leading to a recall on 24 January. Whole genome sequencing analysis linked present outbreak isolates to a 2010-11 Poona outbreak in Spain associated with formula manufactured in the same facility, indicating a persistent source of contamination.

Paediatric haemolytic uraemic syndrome related to Shiga toxin-producing , an overview of 10 years of surveillance in France, 2007 to 2016.

IntroductionHaemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) related to Shiga toxin-producing (STEC) is the leading cause of acute renal failure in young children. In France, HUS surveillance in children aged < 15 years was implemented starting from 1996.AimWe present the results of this surveillance between 2007 and 2016.

Disentangling a complex nationwide Dublin outbreak associated with raw-milk cheese consumption, France, 2015 to 2016.

On 18 January 2016, the French National Reference Centre for reported to Santé publique France an excess of serotype Dublin ( Dublin) infections. We investigated to identify the source of infection and implement control measures. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) and multilocus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) were performed to identify microbiological clusters and links among cases, animal and food sources.

Ongoing nationwide outbreak of Agona associated with internationally distributed infant milk products, France, December 2017.

On 1 December 2017, an outbreak of Agona infections among infants was identified in France. To date, 37 cases (median age: 4 months) and two further international cases have been confirmed. Five different infant milk products manufactured at one facility were implicated.

Secular trends in incidence of acute gastroenteritis in general practice, France, 1991 to 2015.

We analysed 25 years of general practitioner (GP) visits for acute gastroenteritis (AG) surveillance in France, by the GP Sentinelles network. We searched for time trends of acute gastroenteritis incidence during winter periods. Data from emergency departments and drug reimbursement were additional data sources.

Phylogenetic structure of European Enteritidis outbreak correlates with national and international egg distribution network.

Outbreaks of Enteritidis have long been associated with contaminated poultry and eggs. In the summer of 2014 a large multi-national outbreak of Enteritidis phage type 14b occurred with over 350 cases reported in the United Kingdom, Germany, Austria, France and Luxembourg. Egg supply network investigation and microbiological sampling identified the source to be a Bavarian egg producer.

MLVA for subsp. Serovar Dublin: Development of a Method Suitable for Inter-Laboratory Surveillance and Application in the Context of a Raw Milk Cheese Outbreak in France in 2012.

subspecies Dublin (. Dublin) figures among the most frequently isolated strains in humans in France. This serovar may affect production and animal health mainly in cattle herds with corresponding high economic losses.

Multinational outbreak of travel-related Salmonella Chester infections in Europe, summers 2014 and 2015.

Between 2014 and 2015, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control was informed of an increase in numbers of Salmonella enterica serotype Chester cases with travel to Morocco occurring in six European countries. Epidemiological and microbiological investigations were conducted. In addition to gathering information on the characteristics of cases from the different countries in 2014, the epidemiological investigation comprised a matched case-case study involving French patients with salmonellosis who travelled to Morocco that year.

Characterization of Clostridium Baratii Type F Strains Responsible for an Outbreak of Botulism Linked to Beef Meat Consumption in France.

Introduction: A second botulism outbreak due to Clostridium baratii occurred in France in August 2015 and included three patients who had their meal in a restaurant the same day. We report the characterization of C. baratii isolates including whole genome sequencing (WGS).

Outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis linked to the consumption of frozen beefburgers received from a food bank and originating from Poland: northern France, December 2014 to April 2015.

A prolonged outbreak of Salmonella enterica serotype Enteritidis occurred in northern France between December 2014 and April 2015. Epidemiological investigations following the initial notification on 30 December 2014 of five cases of salmonellosis (two confirmed S. Enteritidis) in young children residing in the Somme department revealed that all cases frequented the same food bank A.