Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
2.4%
8.5%
1.2%
9.8%
3.7%
Berries
Green onions
Herbs
Leafy greens
Melons
Tomatoes
Others
Multiple
Unknown
8.5%
17.1%
32.9%
15.9%
Figure 5.3.
Types of produce associated with outbreaks, 1996-2008 (N = 82).
Table 5.3.
Produce outbreak reservoirs, 1996-2008 (N = 82*)
Zoonotic
Human
2 5
E coli
0157:H7
17
Cyclospora
3 4
Salmonella
sp
3
Hepatitis A
2
Shigella
Source
35
Domestic
1
Domestic
9
Foreign
11
Foreign
15
Unknown
10
Unknown
59
TOTAL
22
TOTAL
As of May, 2008
Guzewich 2008 ; Vierk 2009 .
*
One outbreak due to cucrubitacic toxin.
foodborne illnesses. There are many contributory factors involved, and they include
those discussed in the following sections (Rangurajan and others 1999).
Changing Demographics
People are living longer than ever before and as a result, many people in the U.S. are
elderly, have weakened immune systems, or are suffering from chronic diseases. It is
estimated that approximately 25-30% of the U.S. population has a weakened or com-
promised immune system (Morris and Potter 1997; Smith 1997). People ingesting
immunosuppressive agents due to chemotherapy treatments or to prevent the rejection
of organ transplants, people who suffer from late-stage HIV infections or AIDS, preg-
nant women, and young children are more vulnerable to foodborne illnesses than are
healthy, nonimmunocompromised people, and they are at an increased risk for serious
foodborne illnesses (Rangurajan and others 1999).
