Sweden reports a recent increase in Campylobacter cases in chicken

Sweden has recorded an increase in Campylobacter patients with contaminated chicken suspected to be driving the problem. In recent weeks, there has been a rise in people with Campylobacter infections. The spike in cases in late June and early July came after an increase in Campylobacter in broiler flocks. Broilers are chickens raised for their meat. Officials from Folkhälsomyndigheten (the Public Health Agency of Sweden) said the annual summer increase seems to have started quite suddenly and a little bit earlier than usual. Data from the National Veterinary Institute (SVA) shows it was preceded by several larger Campylobacter positive broiler flocks. Sick people live throughout the country and infections have been recorded across age groups. The average is about 20 reported non-travel associated cases per day and rising. This can be compared to a peak with about 25 to 30 cases per day that has usually occurred in early August in previous years. The number of domestically infected ...