Analysis of foodborne diseases outbreaks in schools from 2011 to 2020 in Henan Province / 中国学校卫生

ABSTRACT

Objective@#To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of school foodborne disease outbreaks in Henan Province from 2011 to 2020 and to provide the basis for effective prevention and control of school foodborne disease outbreaks.@*Methods@#The outbreaks of foodborne diseases in schools in Henan Province reported by the foodborne disease outbreak surveillance system from 2011 to 2020 were statistically analyzed.@*Results@#A total of 47 outbreaks of school foodborne diseases were reported in Henan province in the past 10 years, with a total of 1 258 cases, 701 hospitalizations and 1 death. Zhengzhou, Zhumadian, Xinyang and Xinxiang were the top 4 cities in Henan Province in terms of the number of school foodborne disease outbreaks reported. The peak of foodborne illness incidents in schools was in June and September. The largest number of incidents occurred in middle school canteens and primary school canteens(all 12). The number of reported incidents (12) and the number of cases of foodborne diseases (371) in schools caused by cereals and their products were the largest. Pathogenic bacteria and their toxins were the main pathogenic factors that caused the outbreaks of foodborne diseases in schools, accounting for 78.26% of the identified causes. Bacillus cereus was the top pathogens causing foodborne diseases outbreaks in schools. The pathogenic factor that caused the largest number of cases was Diarrheogenic Escherichia Coli, and the pathogenic factor that caused the death cases was poisonous mushrooms. Apart from unexplained incidents, improper processing was the main link leading to foodborne diseases outbreaks in schools.@*Conclusion@#The primary and middle school students are the group with high incidence of foodborne diseases in schools. The supervision and management of school canteen should be strengthened in summer to prevent the outbreak of bacterial foodborne diseases caused by improper processing and storage of grain food.