Multistate Salmonella infection outbreaks in United States, 2006 to 2020

ABSTRACT

Foodborne and pet-borne Salmonella infectious diseases have become a major public health problem in the United States. By collecting the data and information of the epidemiological investigations of 153 Salmonella multistate foodborne disease (SMSFBD) outbreaks and 34 Salmonella multistate pet-borne disease (SMSPBD) outbreaks in the United States from 2006 to 2020, we analyzed the distribution of Salmonella serotypes, characteristics of disease burden, food attribution and the corresponding response outcomes, and descripted the trend of changes in food consumption of processed food among different groups in the United States at different social-economic development stages. We also observed that a series of lifestyle changes, such as passive reduction of food exposure risk caused by decreasing social activities and food procurement frequency and increased home stay time due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. New backyard poultry raising which was popular from 2018 might be potential cause of an outbreak of SMSPBD with the most extensive coverage, the largest number of cases and the most complex Salmonella serotype in the United States in 2020. The results showed that it is necessary to learn from the active surveillance strategies and experiences in the prevention and control of SMSFBD and SMSPBD outbreaks in developed countries to establish the tailored food and cultivation early warning system based on local epidemiological characteristics of the diseases, capacity of the diseases control and prevention, economic and social development level to response the rising challenges of new type salmonellosis.