Epidemiology and Detection as Options for Control of Viral and Parasitic Foodborne Disease

• Main Author: Lee-Ann Jaykus
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1997-12-01
• Series: Emerging Infectious Diseases
• Subjects: United States
• Online Access: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/3/4/97-0418_article

Human enteric viruses and protozoal parasites are important causes of emerging food and waterborne disease. Epidemiologic investigation and detection of the agents in clinical, food, and water specimens, which are traditionally used to establish the cause of disease outbreaks, are either cumbersome, expensive, and frequently unavailable or unattempted for the important food and waterborne enteric viruses and protozoa. However, the recent introduction of regulatory testing mandates, alternative testing strategies, and increased epidemiologic surveillance for food and waterborne disease should significantly improve the ability to detect and control these agents. We discuss new methods of investigating foodborne viral and parasitic disease and the future of these methods in recognizing, identifying, and controlling disease agents.