Infectious Diseases 2023

Denmark recorded 5,142 registered cases of campylobacteriosis and 899 cases of salmonella in 2022. This marks the second consecutive year of growth, bringing the numbers back to pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels. These findings are outlined in the annual report on zoonoses occurrence in Denmark for 2022. Campylobacter has long been the primary bacterium responsible for foodborne diseases in Denmark. Among the 5,142 campylobacteriosis cases recorded in 2022, 28% were related to travel. The Central Outbreak Group investigated eleven outbreaks, with Danish chicken meat being identified as the source in five of them.
Since 2019, the Danish Food and Drug Administration and the Statens Serum Institute have utilized whole-genome sequencing to monitor campylobacter in sources and individuals. This DNA analysis method has led to the discovery of numerous outbreaks, with chicken meat frequently identified as the highly likely source.
The number of salmonella cases continued to rise for the second consecutive year, reaching 899 cases in 2022. Among the eleven outbreaks investigated, three were part of larger international outbreaks. One such outbreak involved Salmonella Typhimurium, which caused 369 cases of illness across 16 countries, primarily linked to the consumption of chocolate products, particularly Kinderegg.
In 2022, a new action plan addressing campylobacter came into effect. Notably, each abattoir is now required to measure its capability in maintaining campylobacter occurrence and concentration in chicken products below specific targets. The targets are determined based on the abattoir's previous levels and aim to progressively lower the bacteria's presence.