The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Outbreak from South Africa threatens 15 countries
Kampala, Uganda | AGENCIES | In South Africa, an outbreak of listeriosis, a serious food borne disease, has been ongoing since the start of 2017. Between 1 January 2017 through 14 March 2018, 978 laboratory-confirmed listeriosis cases have been reported to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) from all provinces. The outcome of illness is known for 674 patients, of whom 183 (27%) died; this case fatality rate is comparable to other recorded listeriosis outbreaks worldwide.
Most of the cases are persons who have higher risks for a severe disease outcome; such as neonates, pregnant women, the elderly and immune compromised persons. In this outbreak, 42% of the cases are neonates who were infected during pregnancy or delivery. On 4 March 2018, the Ministry of Health, announced that this product was believed to be the source of the outbreak. The food processing company and three of its retailers export to 15 countries in the African region.
They include Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Swaziland, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. According to a report by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 28, all of these countries have issued recalls for the implicated products. Environmental samples from other food production companies in South Africa have also tested positive for Listeria but with strains different from the outbreak strain. These companies have also issued food recalls.
Some of their products have been exported to some of the countries mentioned above. Nine percent of the reported cases in the present outbreak in South Africa were infected with different strains of Listeria than the predominant ST6 outbreak strain. This may indicate that more than one outbreak is ongoing. Comprehensive investigations to identify the source of infection of these cases should be conducted. The country has activated a national multispectral task force to coordinate investigation and response activities: The Minister of Health, South Africa, held a press conference on March 04 to announce the source of the outbreak.
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Health Ministers held a meeting in Johannesburg on March 15, to share information and to enhance preparedness and response for listeriosis. Health Ministers were further reminded about their rights and obligations under the International Health Regulations (IHR) with regards to additional health measures for international travel and trade.
WHO risk assessment?
Globally, this is the largest outbreak of listeriosis that has been detected. Due to the potentially long incubation period of listeriosis (one to three weeks and up to 70 days) further cases are expected before the impact of the food recall is observed. Following the identification of the source of this outbreak, WHO is now concerned that the export of implicated products may have resulted in listeriosis cases in other countries. Detailed information on the implicated product batches exported to each of the identified 15 countries should be shared with WHO and the International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN) Secretariat.
This will help to facilitate efficient recalls of these products. Recently, Namibia reported a confirmed case of listeriosis. It is important that this case and other possible cases be properly investigated and the implicated food sources identified. The isolated Listeria strains should be sequenced to determine potential links to the outbreak in South Africa. Some of these countries may not have well-established surveillance systems and laboratory diagnostic services in place to detect cases of listeriosis. In such cases, WHO is ready to provide support and has reached out to 16 African nations (two West African countries and 14 members of SADC) to provide support for preparedness and response. An increase in public concern about the outbreak has been reflected in media reports and discussions in various social media platforms.
