Epidemiology of human listeriosis in France

Human listeriosis is a relatively rare but serious disease with case fatali ty rates between 20 and 30 %. The majority of patients who have listeriosis present with meningitis or septicaemia. Listeriosis during pregnancy can l ead to a congenital infection neonatal sepsis and meningitis or foetal deat h. The main mode of transmission is through contaminated foods. The infecti on usually occurs sporadically but small outbreaks and even large epidemics have occurred in a lai ge number of industrialised countries. During the l ast 10 years sever al Listeria monocytogenes control measures have been int roduced and implemented at the retail level and in production for plants or foods potentially contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. During this pe riod the incidence of listeriosis decreased substantially and is at present estimated at 300-400 cases annually.