In 2022, the number of enteric infections – which mainly cause gastrointestinal symptoms – was higher than it was in the previous two years. However, the total number of infections was still lower than before the coronavirus pandemic.
The number of people reporting sick due to familiar pathogens like Salmonella or Campylobacter increased this past year after a noticeable lull during the coronavirus pandemic, though it did not yet reach pre-pandemic levels. However, the number of people affected by norovirus infections did reach 2020 levels.
Listeria
The number of people that fell ill due to the Listeria bacterium also rose above pre-pandemic levels. Reports of cases with this pathogen did not decrease in the past two years. This is likely because infections with this bacterium almost always occur through (raw) food. Furthermore, the number of people with rotavirus infections also increased. Researchers suspect that this is due the fact that the disease was very rare over the past two years and people have not been able to build up immunity against it.
Notable
The most notable outbreak in 2022 was when 72 people contracted typhoid fever (Salmonella Typhi) on a ship that housed asylum seekers in the Netherlands. It is highly likely that they were infected through the ship’s drinking water supply, which was outdated and located near sewage pipes.
The number of infections with shigatoxigenic E. coli (STEC) also saw a sharp increase over the past year, with levels in 2022 the highest since 2016. The cause for this increase is unclear.
The most notable outbreak in 2022 was when 72 people contracted typhoid fever (Salmonella Typhi) on a ship that housed asylum seekers in the Netherlands. It is highly likely that they were infected through the ship’s drinking water supply, which was outdated and located near sewage pipes.
The number of infections with shigatoxigenic E. coli (STEC) also saw a sharp increase over the past year, with levels in 2022 the highest since 2016. The cause for this increase is unclear.
Gastrointestinal symptoms
Enteric infections may be caused by various bacteria, parasites or viruses. These infections usually result in gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting, abdominal pain and/or (bloody) diarrhoea. Occasionally, they may even cause more severe issues, such as hepatitis, sepsis or meningitis.
Some of these pathogens are transmitted to humans through direct contact with animals or animal faeces, but others are transmitted through contaminated food or the environment (soil, air or surface water). They can also be transmitted from humans to other humans.