11 Vibrio parahaemolyticus Risk Management in Japan
135
These strategies focused on minimizing contamination from environments
including seawater and preventing the growth of Vp throughout the food chain
from harvest to consumption.
Discussion
After 1998, the year in which the numbers of cases and outbreaks of Vp infection
peaked (839 outbreaks, 12,318 cases), the numbers of both cases and outbreaks
of Vp infection decreased continuously, reaching 14 outbreaks and 280 cases in
2009. The microbiological limit and processing and storage standards implemented
as legal requirements from 2001 onwards, partially contributed to this decline. In
addition, efforts to minimize the contamination and growth of Vp throughout the
food chain could also have contributed to this decline. However, the prevalence of
total Vp and tdh-positive Vp in seafood did not show the same drastic changes.
At this moment, we do not have concrete data to explain this public health outcome,
although it is possible that a new pandemic strain may appear in the future. Thus, we
should continue to implement control measures and perform baseline surveillance,
both of public health and of seafood to prevent outbreaks of Vp infection.
Conclusion
After the incidence of Vp foodborne outbreaks peaked in 1998, the numbers of
cases and outbreaks of foodborne Vp infection decreased. The MHLW implemented
several risk management strategies, including the establishment of a microbiological
regulatory limit in 2001. Even though the factors responsible for this decrease are
not completely understood it is hoped that this low level of public health burden is
maintained by implementing risk management strategies throughout the food chain.
References
Food Safety Commission (2012) Risk profile on Vibrio parahaemolyticus in fresh seafood
[in Japanese]. Food Safety Commission, Tokyo. http://www.fsc.go.jp/sonota/risk profile/
vibrioparahaemolyticus.pdf. Available on 11 Feb 2012
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) of Japan (2000) Summary of food poisoning
reports in 1998. MHLW, Tokyo [in Japanese]
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) of Japan (2001) Summary of food poisoning
reports in 1999. MHLW, Tokyo [in Japanese]
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) of Japan (2002) Summary of food poisoning
reports in 2000. MHLW, Tokyo [in Japanese]
135
These strategies focused on minimizing contamination from environments
including seawater and preventing the growth of Vp throughout the food chain
from harvest to consumption.
Discussion
After 1998, the year in which the numbers of cases and outbreaks of Vp infection
peaked (839 outbreaks, 12,318 cases), the numbers of both cases and outbreaks
of Vp infection decreased continuously, reaching 14 outbreaks and 280 cases in
2009. The microbiological limit and processing and storage standards implemented
as legal requirements from 2001 onwards, partially contributed to this decline. In
addition, efforts to minimize the contamination and growth of Vp throughout the
food chain could also have contributed to this decline. However, the prevalence of
total Vp and tdh-positive Vp in seafood did not show the same drastic changes.
At this moment, we do not have concrete data to explain this public health outcome,
although it is possible that a new pandemic strain may appear in the future. Thus, we
should continue to implement control measures and perform baseline surveillance,
both of public health and of seafood to prevent outbreaks of Vp infection.
Conclusion
After the incidence of Vp foodborne outbreaks peaked in 1998, the numbers of
cases and outbreaks of foodborne Vp infection decreased. The MHLW implemented
several risk management strategies, including the establishment of a microbiological
regulatory limit in 2001. Even though the factors responsible for this decrease are
not completely understood it is hoped that this low level of public health burden is
maintained by implementing risk management strategies throughout the food chain.
References
Food Safety Commission (2012) Risk profile on Vibrio parahaemolyticus in fresh seafood
[in Japanese]. Food Safety Commission, Tokyo. http://www.fsc.go.jp/sonota/risk profile/
vibrioparahaemolyticus.pdf. Available on 11 Feb 2012
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) of Japan (2000) Summary of food poisoning
reports in 1998. MHLW, Tokyo [in Japanese]
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) of Japan (2001) Summary of food poisoning
reports in 1999. MHLW, Tokyo [in Japanese]
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) of Japan (2002) Summary of food poisoning
reports in 2000. MHLW, Tokyo [in Japanese]