The European Union One Health 2023 Zoonoses report

Abstract

This report by the European Food Safety Authority and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control presents the results of zoonoses monitoring and surveillance activities carried out in 2023 in 27 Member States (MSs), the United Kingdom (Northern Ireland) and 10 non-MSs. Key statistics on zoonoses and zoonotic agents in humans, food, animals and feed are provided and interpreted historically. In 2023, the first and second most reported zoonoses in humans were campylobacteriosis and salmonellosis, respectively. For both agents, an increase in the absolute number of cases was observed in comparison with 2022. Fifteen MSs and the United Kingdom (Northern Ireland) reached all the established targets in poultry populations with regard to the reduction in Salmonella prevalence for the relevant serovars. Salmonella samples from carcases of various animal species, and samples for Campylobacter quantification from broiler carcases, were more frequently positive when performed by the competent authorities than when own-checks were conducted. Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) was the third most reported zoonotic agent in humans, followed by Yersinia enterocolitica and Listeria monocytogenes. L. monocytogenes and West Nile virus infections were the most severe zoonotic diseases, with the highest percentage of hospitalisations among cases and the highest case fatality rates. Twenty-seven MSs and the United Kingdom (Northern Ireland) reported a slight decrease in food-borne outbreaks in 2023 overall in comparison with 2022, although the overall number of reported human cases and hospitalisations increased. Salmonella Enteritidis remained the most frequently reported causative agent for reported cases and food-borne outbreaks. Salmonella in 'eggs and egg products' was the agent/food pair of most concern. In 2023 this combination caused the largest number of outbreaks and cases among all agent/food combination and ranked second in number of hospitalisations. Salmonella was also the causative agent associated with the majority of multi-country outbreaks reported in the EU in 2023. This report also provides updates on brucellosis, echinococcosis, Q fever, rabies, toxoplasmosis, trichinellosis, tuberculosis due to Mycobacterium bovis or M. caprae, and tularaemia.

Keywords: Campylobacter; Listeria; Salmonella; West Nile; food‐borne outbreaks; monitoring; parasites; zoonoses.

FIGURE 1

Trend in reported confirmed human cases of campylobacteriosis in the EU, by month, 2019–2023. Source: Austria, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.

FIGURE 2

Trend in reported confirmed human cases of non‐typhoidal salmonellosis in the EU by month, 2019–2023. Source: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Slovakia, Slovenia and Sweden.

FIGURE 3

Prevalence of poultry flocks (breeding flocks of Gallus gallus, laying hens, broilers, breeding turkeys and fattening turkeys) positive for target Salmonella serovars, EU MSs and non‐MS countries, 2023. Vertical bars indicate the target to be reached, which was set at 1% for all poultry populations with the exception of laying hens, for which it was 2%. The solid red vertical lines indicate the target for all poultry populations except laying hens, while the dotted vertical lines denote the target specifically for laying hens. For laying hens, in accordance with Commission Regulation (EC) No 517/2011, Lithuania and Luxembourg reached the reduction target (Article 1(b): one adult flock can remain positive for target Salmonella serovars for MSs with less than 50 flocks). For breeding turkeys, according to Commission Regulation (EU) No 1190/2012, Germany reached the reduction target (Article 1: one adult flock can remain positive for target Salmonella serovars for MSs with less than 100 flocks).

FIGURE 4

Trend in the estimated prevalence of poultry flocks positive for Salmonella spp. and target Salmonella serovars, at EU level for different poultry populations, 2007–2023. The apparent discrepancy between the proportion of positive flocks (both for target Salmonella serovars and for Salmonella spp., as described in the previous paragraphs) and the estimated prevalence shown above is due to the fact that the first value is the ratio of all positive to all tested flocks, whereas the estimated prevalence is obtained by modelling the ratio of positive to all tested flocks in each reporting country, taking into account inter‐country variability and the correlation between years.

FIGURE 5

Trends in EU level prevalence of target Salmonella serovars (Target)‐positive or Salmonella spp. (Spp.)‐positive flocks of poultry populations (2007–2023 and 2019–2023).

FIGURE 6

Trend in reported confirmed human cases of S. Enteritidis infections acquired in the EU, by month, 2019–2023. Source: Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Spain, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and Sweden.

FIGURE 7

Sankey diagram of the distribution of the top four EU‐level Salmonella serovars involved in human salmonellosis cases acquired in the EU, reported from specified food‐animal categories, by food‐animal source, EU, 2023. The left side of the diagram shows the four most commonly reported Salmonella serovars involved in human salmonellosis cases acquired in the EU: S. Enteritidis (light blue), S. Infantis (green), S. Typhimurium (orange) and monophasic S. Typhimurium (1,4,[5],12:I:‐) (Indigo). Animal and food data from the same source were merged: ‘broiler’ includes isolates from broiler flocks and broiler meat, ‘bovine' includes isolates from bovine animals for meat production and from bovine meat, ‘pig’ includes isolates from fattening pigs and pig meat, ‘turkey’ includes isolates from fattening turkey flocks and turkey meat, and ‘layers’ includes isolates from laying hen flocks and eggs. The right side shows the five sources considered (broilers (blue), bovine animals (violet), pigs (light green), turkeys (red) and layers (light orange)). The width of the coloured bands linking the sources and serovars is proportional to the percentage of isolates of each serovar from each source.

FIGURE 8

Overview of Listeria monocytogenes testing of ‘ready‐to‐eat’ food along the food chain according to the sampling stage, the sampler and the objective of the sampling, EU, 2023.

FIGURE 9

Trend in reported confirmed human cases of listeriosis in the EU by month, 2019–2023. Source: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.

FIGURE 10

Trend in reported confirmed human cases of STEC infection in the EU by month, 2014–2023. Source: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.

FIGURE 11

Map of the number of confirmed tuberculosis cases due to Mycobacterium bovis or Mycobacterium caprae in individuals of EU origin, and national herd prevalence of tuberculosis in the bovine animal population in EU MS and non‐MS countries, 2023. Member States that reported data at the national level without specifying the specific zones or overseas territories where the bovine tuberculosis‐positive cattle herds were detected, were assigned the same colour for all their zones, including overseas territories. EU MSs and the United Kingdom (Northern Ireland) were represented with a blue label, the EFTA/EEA countries were represented with a grey label, and all the candidate countries were represented with an orange label. For Albania, Kosovo and Serbia, prevalence data are at the animal level. The designation of Kosovo is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.

FIGURE 12

Prevalence of cattle herds infected with the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in disease‐free status (DFS) zones, EU, 2014–2023. *In contrast to years 2014–2019, year 2020 does not include the United Kingdom (Scotland) data. Since 1 February 2020, the United Kingdom has withdrawn from the EU and has become a third country.

FIGURE 13

Prevalence of cattle herds positive for bovine tuberculosis in zones under an eradication programme (UEP), EU, 2014–2023. *In contrast to years 2014–2019, year 2020 does not include the United Kingdom data. Since 1 February 2020, the United Kingdom has withdrawn from the EU and has become a third country. No 2020 data were reported from Bulgaria. **Data from the United Kingdom (Northern Ireland) were taken into account for 2021–2023. In accordance with the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, and in particular Article 5(4) of the Windsor Framework (see Joint Declaration No 1/2023 of the Union and the United Kingdom in the Joint Committee established by the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community of 24 March 2023, OJ L 102, 17.4.2023, p. 87) in conjunction with Section 24 of Annex 2 to that Framework, for the purposes of this Regulation, references to MSs include the United Kingdom in respect of Northern Ireland.

FIGURE 14

Trend in reported confirmed human cases of brucellosis in the EU, by month, 2019–2023. Source: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czechia, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Sweden.

FIGURE 15

Number of confirmed, domestically acquired brucellosis cases in humans and national prevalence of Brucella‐positive cattle herds and sheep and goat flocks, in EU MSs and non‐MSs, 2023. Member States that reported data at the national level without specifying the specific zones or overseas territories where the Brucella‐positive animal herds were detected, were assigned the same colour for all their zones, including overseas territories. EU MSs and the United Kingdom (Northern Ireland) were represented with a blue label, the EFTA/EEA countries were represented with a grey label, and all the candidate countries were represented with an orange label. For Kosovo and Serbia, prevalence data are at the animal level. The designation of Kosovo is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.

FIGURE 16

Prevalence of Brucella‐positive cattle herds, in zones under an eradication programme, EU, 2014–2023. UEP, under an eradication programme. *In contrast to years 2014–2019, the year 2020 does not include the United Kingdom data. Since 1 February 2020, the United Kingdom has withdrawn from the EU and has become a third country. **Data from the United Kingdom (Northern Ireland) were considered for 2021–2023. In accordance with the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, and in particular Article 5(4) of the Windsor Framework (see Joint Declaration No 1/2023 of the Union and the United Kingdom in the Joint Committee established by the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community of 24 March 2023, OJ L 102, 17.4.2023, p. 87) in conjunction with Section 24 of Annex 2 to that Framework, for the purposes of this Regulation, references to MSs include the United Kingdom in respect of Northern Ireland.

FIGURE 17

Prevalence of Brucella‐positive sheep and goat flocks, in zones under an eradication programme, EU, 2014–2023. UEP, under an eradication programme. *In contrast to years 2014–2019, the year 2020 does not include the United Kingdom data. Since 1 February 2020, the United Kingdom has withdrawn from the EU and has become a third country. **Data from the United Kingdom (Northern Ireland) were considered for 2021–2023. In accordance with the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, and in particular Article 5(4) of the Windsor Framework (see Joint Declaration No 1/2023 of the Union and the United Kingdom in the Joint Committee established by the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community of 24 March 2023, OJ L 102, 17.4.2023, p. 87) in conjunction with Section 24 of Annex 2 to that Framework, for the purposes of this Regulation, references to MSs include the United Kingdom in respect of Northern Ireland.

FIGURE 18

Number of confirmed human cases of trichinellosis in the EU by month and year, 2014–2023. Source: Austria, Cyprus, Czechia, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Sweden.

FIGURE 19

Relative variation (%) in food‐borne outbreaks and outbreak‐related cases reported in 2023 compared with 2022, by reporting country.

FIGURE 20

Trends in the number of strong‐evidence and weak‐evidence outbreaks (left axis) and outbreak reporting rate (per 100,000 population) (right axis) in the EU and reporting EU MSs and non‐MSs, 2014–2023. *Indicates countries with a statistically significant trend (p < 0.05) over the period. Dark red and light red show strong‐ and weak‐evidence outbreaks, respectively. Black dots and lines show FBO reporting rates. The dots, lines and secondary Y‐axis in blue or green showing the outbreak reporting rates have been used for Belgium, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Netherlands and Slovakia, in order to draw attention to a scale that is different to that of the other countries.

FIGURE 21

Number of food‐borne outbreaks by causative agent, reported to the EU by MSs, 2014–2023. ‘Marine biotoxins’ includes ciguatoxin, muscle‐paralysing toxin and unspecified marine biotoxins. ‘Norovirus (and other calicivirus)’ includes norovirus (Norwalk‐like virus), sapovirus (Sapporo‐like virus) and unspecified calicivirus. ‘Other bacteria (incl. unspecified)’ includes Aeromonas, Arcobacter, Cronobacter sakazakii, E. coli other than STEC, Enterococcus, Francisella, Leptospira, Mycobacterium spp., Shigella, Streptococcus, Vibrio cholerae (non‐toxigenic), Vibrio cholerae (toxigenic), Vibrio parahaemolyticus and other unspecified bacteria. ‘Other parasites (incl. unspecified)’ includes Anisakis, Cysticerci, Enterocytozoon bieneusi, Giardia and other unspecified parasites. ‘Other viruses (incl. unspecified)’ includes adenovirus, enterovirus, flavivirus (incl. tick‐borne encephalitis virus), hepatitis E virus, unspecified hepatitis virus, rotavirus and other unspecified virus. ‘Other agents (incl. unspecified)’ includes atropine, chemical agents, lectins, monosodium glutamate, mushroom toxins, mycotoxins, unspecified toxins, wax esters (from fish) and other unspecified agents.

FIGURE 22

Trend in reported confirmed human cases of yersiniosis in the EU, by month, 2019–2023. Source: Austria, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden.

FIGURE 23

Number of tested and positive foxes in the framework of passive surveillance and the geographical distribution of the rabies cases reported in foxes in EU MSs and non‐EU countries, 2023. For Hungary, the geographical distribution of reported cases was not provided. EU MSs and the United Kingdom (Northern Ireland) were represented with a blue label, the EFTA/EEA countries were represented with a grey label, and all the candidate countries were represented with an orange label. The designation of Kosovo is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.

FIGURE 24

Number of tested and positive bats, and the geographical distribution of the rabies cases reported in bats in EU MSs and non‐EU countries, 2023. For Austria, Germany, Hungary, Spain, the Netherlands and Switzerland, the geographical distribution of reported cases was not provided. EU MSs and the United Kingdom (Northern Ireland) were represented with a blue label, the EFTA/EEA countries were represented with a grey label, and all the candidate countries were represented with an orange label. The designation of Kosovo is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.

FIGURE 25

Number of tested and positive pets, and the geographical distribution of the rabies cases reported in pets in EU MSs and non‐EU countries, 2023. For Hungary, the geographical distribution of reported cases was not provided. EU MSs and the United Kingdom (Northern Ireland) were represented with a blue label, the EFTA/EEA countries were represented with a grey label, and all the candidate countries were represented with an orange label. The designation of Kosovo is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.

FIGURE 26

Number of tested and positive farmed animals, and the geographical distribution of the rabies cases reported in farmed animals in EU MSs and non‐EU countries, 2023. For Hungary, the geographical distribution of reported cases was not provided. EU MSs and the United Kingdom (Northern Ireland) were represented with a blue label, the EFTA/EEA countries were represented with a grey label, and all the candidate countries were represented with an orange label. The designation of Kosovo is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.

FIGURE 27

Trend in reported confirmed human cases of Q fever in the EU by month, 2019–2023. Source: Cyprus, Czechia, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.

FIGURE 28

Geographical distribution of locally acquired West Nile virus infections among humans (NUTS 3 level ⁵⁴ ) and outbreaks notified to ADIS among equids and birds (X, Y coordinates) across the EU, 2023 transmission season. EU MSs and the United Kingdom (Northern Ireland) were represented with a blue label, the EFTA/EEA countries were represented with a grey label, and all the candidate countries were represented with an orange label. The designation of Kosovo is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.

FIGURE 29

Reported locally acquired human cases of West Nile virus infection in EU MSs, by month, 2014–2023. Source: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czechia, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden.

FIGURE 30

Reported locally acquired human cases of West Nile virus infection and outbreaks in birds and equids, in the EU, by month, 2019–2023.

FIGURE 31

Number of confirmed human cases of tularaemia in the EU, by month and year, 2014–2023. Source: Austria, Cyprus, Czechia, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden.