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Alves F, Artursson K, Bloch J, Brisabois A, Imberechts H, Jokelainen P, La Ragione R, Lindblad M, Forss RL, Marston DA, Parvizi O, Tuominen L, Omazic A. A multi-country One Health foodborne outbreak simulation exercise: cross-sectoral cooperation, data sharing and communication. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1121522. [PMID: 37383258 PMCID: PMC10293640 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1121522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The awareness of scientists and policy makers regarding the requirement for an integrated One Health (OH) approach in responding to zoonoses has increased in recent years. However, there remains an overall inertia in relation to the implementation of practical cross-sector collaborations. Foodborne outbreaks of zoonotic diseases continue to affect the European population despite stringent regulations, evidencing the requirement for better 'prevent, detect and response' strategies. Response exercises play an essential role in the improvement of crisis management plans, providing the opportunity to test practical intervention methodologies in a controlled environment. Methods The One Health European Joint Programme simulation exercise (OHEJP SimEx) aimed at practicing the OH capacity and interoperability across public health, animal health and food safety sectors in a challenging outbreak scenario. The OHEJP SimEx was delivered through a sequence of scripts covering the different stages of a Salmonella outbreak investigation at a national level, involving both the human food chain and the raw pet feed industry. Results A total of 255 participants from 11 European countries (Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Italy, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, the Netherlands) took part in national level two-day exercises during 2022. National evaluations identified common recommendations to countries aiming to improve their OH structure to establish formal communication channels between sectors, implement a common data sharing platform, harmonize laboratory procedures, and reinforce inter-laboratory networks within countries. The large proportion of participants (94%) indicated significant interest in pursuing a OH approach and desire to work more closely with other sectors. Discussion The OHEJP SimEx outcomes will assist policy makers in implementing a harmonized approach to cross-sector health-related topics, by highlighting the benefits of cooperation, identifying gaps in the current strategies and suggesting actions required to better address foodborne outbreaks. Furthermore, we summarize recommendations for future OH simulation exercises, which are essential to continually test, challenge and improve national OH strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederico Alves
- Department of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge (INSA), Lisbon, Portugal
- Office of Science and International Collaboration, National Veterinary Institute (SVA), Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Karin Artursson
- Office of Science and International Collaboration, National Veterinary Institute (SVA), Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Juliette Bloch
- Department of Health Alerts and Vigilances, French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES), Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Anne Brisabois
- Department of Strategy and Program, French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (ANSES), Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Hein Imberechts
- Sciensano, The Belgian Institute for Health, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Pikka Jokelainen
- Infectious Disease Preparedness, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Roberto La Ragione
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, United Kingdom
- School of Biosciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, United Kingdom
| | - Mats Lindblad
- Department of Safe Food, Swedish Food Agency, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Rebecca Litzell Forss
- Office of Science and International Collaboration, National Veterinary Institute (SVA), Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Denise A. Marston
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, United Kingdom
| | - Omid Parvizi
- Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (Federal Research Institute for Animal Health), Jena, Germany
| | - Lena Tuominen
- Office of Science and International Collaboration, National Veterinary Institute (SVA), Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anna Omazic
- Department of Chemistry, Environment and Feed Hygiene, National Veterinary Institute (SVA), Uppsala, Sweden
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Towards a One Health Food Safety Strategy for Palestine: A Mixed-Method Study. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 11:antibiotics11101359. [PMID: 36290016 PMCID: PMC9598066 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11101359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Foodborne diseases, together with increasing antimicrobial resistance (AMR), pose a threat to public health in an era of huge challenges with climate change and the risks of zoonotic epidemics. A One Health approach to foster food safety is a key for improvement, particularly in complex socio-ecological systems such as in Palestine, to examine human–animal-environment interfaces and promote intersectoral action. Objectives: This study aimed to assess food safety from farm to public health toward an operational One Health strategy for Palestine. This study evaluates the food production (broiler production) and monitoring system to better understanding the zoonotic foodborne illnesses transmission and their resistance to antimicrobials. Methods: The transdisciplinary approach included multi-stakeholder discussion groups and field visits to broiler farms, slaughterhouses, and meat stores in the Ramallah and Al-Bireh and Jerusalem districts using a semi-structured observational tool. A survey with 337 poultry producers and workers in slaughterhouses and meat stores was conducted to assess hygiene knowledge, attitudes, and practices during broiler meat production. Results: The stakeholders point out various challenges along the food production chain in Palestine, such as a striking scarcity of public slaughterhouses, insufficient coordination between authorities, a gap between public and private sectors, and inconsistent application of the law. From observations, it appears that, unlike traditional broiler production, the public slaughterhouses and meat markets have effective hygiene, while large-scale farms implement biosecurity measures. Overall, surveyed participants reported that they are aware of zoonotic disease transmission routes and value hygiene standards. Semi-structured observations and survey results are contradictory. Observations indicate poor hygiene practices; however, the vast majority of broiler meat production chain workers claim that hygiene standards are met. Discussion and Conclusions: Our study found that the overuse of antimicrobials, system fragmentation, insufficient infrastructure, a lack of regulations and controls, and poor hygiene practices are among the main obstacles to improving food safety in Palestine. Considering the risk of an important human health burden of food-related illnesses, enhancing food safety in Palestine is required using an integrated One Health approach. It is crucial to develop an integrated quality control system for food production along with promoting on-farm biosecurity and antimicrobial stewardship. Infrastructure, especially slaughterhouses and laboratories, must be built, training and education provided, and consumer awareness raised. As an important added value within a One Health strategy for better food safety in Palestine, research should be reinforced and accompany any future development of the food production monitoring system.
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