Chapter 11
Vibrio parahaemolyticus Risk Management
in Japan
Hajime Toyofuku
Introduction
In Japan, raw consumption of fish and shellfish is common; therefore, the risk of
gastroenteritis caused by Vibrio parahaemolyticus (Vp) is high. In the first half of the
1980s, Vp was identified as the causal agent of more than half of the reported cases
and outbreaks of foodborne illnesses in Japan, and it remained the most common
causal agent of foodborne illnesses in subsequent years with its incidence peaking
in 1998 (839 outbreaks and 12,318 cases). Since 1998, however, the numbers of
both outbreaks and cases of Vp infection have decreased, with 14 outbreaks and 280
cases reported in 2009.
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to review available data for foodborne illnesses caused
by Vp, as published by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW), Japan,
from 1990 to 2009 and to find out any factors that could be useful to understand the
relationship between the decrease in Vp outbreaks and risk management tools that
were implemented during the same period along with other potential factors.
H. Toyofuku ()
Department of International Health and Collaboration, National Institute of Public Health,
2-3-6-Minami, Wako, Saitama 351-0197, Japan
e-mail: toyofuku@niph.go.jp
G. Sauv´ e (ed.), Molluscan Shellfish Safety, DOI 10.1007/978-94-007-6588-7 11,
© Springer ScienceCBusiness Media Dordrecht 2014
129
Vibrio parahaemolyticus Risk Management
in Japan
Hajime Toyofuku
Introduction
In Japan, raw consumption of fish and shellfish is common; therefore, the risk of
gastroenteritis caused by Vibrio parahaemolyticus (Vp) is high. In the first half of the
1980s, Vp was identified as the causal agent of more than half of the reported cases
and outbreaks of foodborne illnesses in Japan, and it remained the most common
causal agent of foodborne illnesses in subsequent years with its incidence peaking
in 1998 (839 outbreaks and 12,318 cases). Since 1998, however, the numbers of
both outbreaks and cases of Vp infection have decreased, with 14 outbreaks and 280
cases reported in 2009.
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to review available data for foodborne illnesses caused
by Vp, as published by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW), Japan,
from 1990 to 2009 and to find out any factors that could be useful to understand the
relationship between the decrease in Vp outbreaks and risk management tools that
were implemented during the same period along with other potential factors.
H. Toyofuku ()
Department of International Health and Collaboration, National Institute of Public Health,
2-3-6-Minami, Wako, Saitama 351-0197, Japan
e-mail: toyofuku@niph.go.jp
G. Sauv´ e (ed.), Molluscan Shellfish Safety, DOI 10.1007/978-94-007-6588-7 11,
© Springer ScienceCBusiness Media Dordrecht 2014
129