Sciensano & Salmonellosis

Last updated on 22-2-2023 by Charlien Hupko

Several Sciensano departments are involved in:

  • the identification of possible sources of contamination
  • the diagnosis and typification of cases of salmonellosis
  • the detection and investigation of epidemics.

Analysis of food samples

The National Reference Laboratory for Food-borne Toxic Infections (NRL-VTI), within Sciensano’s Food Pathogens division, analyzes the food samples sent by the Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (FAVV) for the presence of the concerned Salmonellastrain in the food.

The main objective of the NRL-VTI is to monitor food outbreaks and identify the source of infection or intoxication so that adequate preventive measures can be taken to prevent further infections or intoxications. Based on the collected data, trends in food outbreaks can be analyzed, and an insight can be gained into which pathogens and foodstuffs are involved in outbreaks and the circumstances under which they occur.

Analysis of human samples

The National Reference Center (NRC) for Salmonella, within Sciensano’s Bacterial Diseases department, receives human samples from all medical laboratories in Belgium. Around 2500 laboratory-confirmed cases of Salmonellaare reported in this manner, making it one of the most common food-borne infections in the European Union and Belgium.

The main task of the NRC is to ensure microbiological and epidemiological surveillance of human Salmonellainfections. The aim of this surveillance is to detect epidemics as quickly as possible, and to map their origin and, in the long term, the spatial and temporal trends in the evolution of this bacterium.

Epidemiological support

When an epidemic is suspected, the NRC warns Sciensano’s Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases department and determines whether additional investigation is necessary. If this is the case, the relevant regional authorities are contacted, so that medical and health inspectors can initiate a source investigation among patients. Sciensano can provide support for this epidemiological research.

Sciensano also studies the sensitivity of bacteria to antibiotics and helps to formulate recommendations on the use of antibiotics. 

The various activities performed by Sciensano thus help to detect, investigate and control food-related epidemics, implement prevention measures and evaluate the measures taken to promote public health and consumer protection.

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