Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
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Defra publishes Zoonoses UK report 2007
The 2007 Zoonoses Report will be launched today at the "Orphan Zoonoses Conference" in Glasgow. Zoonoses are diseases and infections which are transmitted naturally between animals and humans.
The report brings together data and information published from various sources throughout 2007 and draws on information from humans, food, feed and animals, providing comparable data from previous years.
It covers the major food and water-borne zoonoses (Campylobacter, Salmonella, Vero cytotoxin producing E. coli O157 (VTEC O157) and Cryptosporidium), and the main notifiable zoonotic diseases of animals including bovine tuberculosis, brucellosis, anthrax, rabies, West Nile Virus, BSE and Avian Influenza.
Key areas include:
* Campylobacter: In 2007 there was an increase of 10% on the number recorded in 2006, however the recorded figure of 55,590 still shows a general decline in the number of cases in humans.
* Salmonella: In 2007, 13,213 laboratory reports of Salmonella in humans were recorded in the UK, a decrease of 6.2% compared to the 14,060 confirmed cases in 2006.
* E. Coli VTEC O157: Human cases of VTEC O157 infection fell in the UK by 9.8% in 2007, compared with 2006.
* Bovine tuberculosis: There was an increase in both new incidents of bovine tuberculosis in cattle during 2007 and in the number of herds tested.
* Lyme borreliosis: Throughout 2007, there was an increase in reports, with seasonal trends similar to those seen in previous years where most cases appear in the months of July, August and September.
* Avian Influenza: The finding of H5N1 in a wild swan in Scotland and of low pathogenic avian influenza H7N3 in poultry in Norfolk is also mentioned.
* Q fever: A cluster of Q fever cases was identified in 2007, in the Cheltenham area. Despite extensive investigations by the HPA and VLA, no source was identified.
Notes for Editors
1. The report is available on the Defra website at http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/zoonoses/reports.htm
2. Ministers agreed in 1999 to the production of an annual Zoonoses Report to make UK data on specific zoonotic organisms found in humans, animals, feedingstuffs and food required by the Zoonoses Directive (92/117/EC) more accessible. The first annual Report was published in July 2000.
3. The 2007 Report was produced by a joint Working Group consisting of representatives from Defra, the Department of Health (DH), the Food Standards Agency (FSA), the Health Protection Agency (HPA), the Devolved Administrations, Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA), Scottish Agricultural College, Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health and Communicable Disease Surveillance Centres (CDSC). The chairman of the working group that produced the report is Dr Robert Smith, NPHS CDSC Wales, (Velindre NHS Trust), The Temple of Peace and Health, Cathays Park, Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre, Abton House, Wedal Road, Cardiff CF10 3NW
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