Objective
To assess the burden posed by foodborne diseases in Japan using methods developed by the World Health Organization’s
Foodborne Disease Burden Epidemiology Reference Group (FERG).
Methods
Expert consultation and statistics on food poisoning during 2011 were used to identify three common causes of foodborne disease
in Japan:
Campylobacter
and
Salmonella
species and enterohaemorrhagic
Escherichia coli
(EHEC). We conducted systematic reviews of English
and Japanese literature on the complications caused by these pathogens, by searching Embase, the Japan medical society abstract database
and Medline. We estimated the annual incidence of acute gastroenteritis from reported surveillance data, based on estimated probabilities
that an affected person would visit a physician and have gastroenteritis confirmed. We then calculated disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs)
lost in 2011, using the incidence estimates along with disability weights derived from published studies.
Findings
In 2011, foodborne disease caused by
Campylobacter
species,
Salmonella
species and EHEC led to an estimated loss of 6099,
3145 and 463 DALYs in Japan, respectively. These estimated burdens are based on the pyramid reconstruction method; are largely due to
morbidity rather than mortality; and are much higher than those indicated by routine surveillance data.
Conclusion
Routine surveillance data may indicate foodborne disease burdens that are much lower than the true values. Most of the burden
posed by foodborne disease in Japan comes from secondary complications. The tools developed by FERG appear useful in estimating disease
burdens and setting priorities in the field of food safety.