Purpose: The purpose of this study was to estimate the burden of foodborne illnesses associated with three pathogens in Japan, by making use of the laboratory confirmed numbers of infections.
Methods: Data on laboratory-confirmed infections of three pathogens were collected from clinical laboratories that test stool samples submitted from all over Japan or from Miyagi Prefecture, from January 2006 to December 2012. The physician consultation rate and the stool submission rate were estimated from telephone population surveys conducted for whole of Japan and for Miyagi prefecture. Each estimate was introduced into the Monte-Carlo simulation model as a probability distribution, which was run for 10,000 iterations.
Results: The estimated mean numbers per year of foodborne illnesses for Campylobacter, Salmonella and V. parahaemolyticus in whole of Japan were 2.2 - 5.3 million, 0.47 - 1.1 million, and 44 - 170 thousand during 2006 - 2012, respectively. Those estimated for whole of Japan from data on Miyagi prefecture were 0.75 - 1.6 million, 78 - 190 thousand, and 7 - 63 thousand during 2006 - 2012, respectively. The numbers of reported foodborne illnesses per year in Japan during 2006 - 2012, for Campylobacter, Salmonella and V. parahaemolyticus, were 1,800 - 3,100, 670 - 3,600 and 90 - 1,300, respectively.
Significance: These data reveal a significant difference in numbers and trends between our estimates of burden of foodborne illnesses and the reported foodborne disease cases associated with three pathogens. Need for continuing active surveillance system to complement the present passive surveillance is strongly suggested, in order to identify and prioritize food safety issues more precisely and to monitor the effectiveness of risk management options.