The number of harmful E. coli- related cases has almost doubled this year compared to the same period last year, according to the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI). It called yesterday for appropriate risk management interventions to reduce cases of the bacterial infection.
Some 98 cases, whose pathogens include the E. coli O157 bacteria, have been reported this year compared to 53 in the same period last year.
Similarly, the number of such outbreaks involving food or water has also increased, with seven outbreaks recorded in 2005 compared to two in 2004 according to statistics provided by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre.
The figures were discussed yesterday at a meeting of the FSAI, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and a number of international food science and medical experts.
Dr John O'Brien, FSAI chief executive, said the dangers of such food contamination could not be underestimated and signalled the need for both national and international risk-based control of the issue.
Deputy chief executive Alan Reilly said the cause of recent increases in E. coli cases was un- known but improved detection and reporting systems might be one contributing factor to the increase in cases reported.
Dr Peter Ben Embarek of WHO said it was imperative to establish scientific advice at an international level so that countries could make informed decisions regarding E. coli.
The four-day meeting hosted by the FSAI marks the first step taken by the FAO and WHO in developing their microbiological risk assessment activity in this area.