The dioxin crisis as experiment to determine poultry-related campylobacter enteritis

Emerg Infect Dis. 2002 Jan;8(1):19-22.

Abstract

In June 1999, the dioxin crisis, caused by dioxin-contaminated feed components, exploded in Belgium, resulting in withdrawal of chicken and eggs from the market. Through the sentinel surveillance system, a decrease in Campylobacter infections during June 1999 was noticed. A model was generated with the reports from preceding years (1994 to 1998), and a prediction of the number of infections in 1999 was calculated. The model shows a significant decline (40%) in the number of infections, mainly because of the withdrawal of poultry. The use of a disaster as an epidemiologic tool offers a unique opportunity to observe exceptional changes in the occurrence of infections or other diseases.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Belgium / epidemiology
  • Campylobacter
  • Campylobacter Infections / epidemiology
  • Campylobacter Infections / microbiology
  • Campylobacter Infections / veterinary*
  • Chickens*
  • Computer Simulation
  • Dioxins / adverse effects
  • Enteritis / epidemiology
  • Enteritis / microbiology
  • Enteritis / veterinary*
  • Epidemiologic Factors
  • Food Contamination / analysis*
  • Models, Biological
  • Poultry Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Poultry Diseases / microbiology

Substances

  • Dioxins