INCIDENCE, EPIDEMIOLOGY AND PREVENTION OF FOODBORNE CAMPYLOBACTER SPECIES

Enteritis caused by Campylobacter spp. is now the most common cause of bacterial gastroenteritis both in the UK and worldwide. There are, ho wever, difficulties in assessing the true incidence of campylobacter e nteritis because of under-reporting, This is because in many cases the illness caused by infection by Campylobacter spp, is relatively mild. Despite the recent introduction oi more stringent food safety laws, t he trend in foodborne illness caused by Campylobacter spp. continues u pwards in the UK. Preventative methods based at the beginning of the f ood chain may prove a more effective means of controlling the incidenc e of the illness than those already in place.