EFSABOD - Burden of zoonoses in European Union and EEA/EFTA countries

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has initiated a four-year Framework Service Contract with an international research consortium led by Sciensano (Belgium), in partnership with Ghent University (Belgium), DTU (Denmark), RIVM (the Netherlands) and Utrecht University (the Netherlands). The project, titled "Burden of zoonoses in European Union and EEA/EFTA countries," aims to provide a detailed estimate of the dual burden of nine specified foodborne zoonoses in humans and animals across Europe. This includes assessing both the direct and indirect costs associated with these diseases, as well as developing an integrated methodological framework that combines health impact and economic estimators.

The project aims to offer insights that can drive policy and practical interventions for reducing the impact of these zoonoses, ultimately improving public and animal health across Europe. EFSA is collaborating with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) on this initiative.

Objectives:

1. Estimate the dual burden (zDALYs) of campylobacteriosis, salmonellosis, listeriosis, Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), zoonotic tuberculosis, brucellosis, trichinellosis, echinococcosis, and yersiniosis in EU Member States and EEA/EFTA countries.

2. Estimate the possible tangible (direct and indirect costs) and intangible costs of human and animal disease not considered in zDALYs for the nine specified foodborne zoonoses.

3. Develop a methodological framework to combine zDALYs and costs estimators into an overall estimator (OVERALL) for the specified nine foodborne zoonoses.

Project investigators:

Sara Monteiro Pires, Technical university of Denmark (DTU)
Alessandro Foddai, Technical university of Denmark (DTU)
Joana Pessoa, Technical university of Denmark (DTU)
Vibe Meister Beltoft, Technical university of Denmark (DTU)
Maria João Cardoso, Technical university of Denmark (DTU)
Brecht Devleesschauwer, Sciensano
Carlotta di Bari, Sciensano
Inge Van Damme, Sciensano
Dieter Van Cauteren, Sciensano
Lapo Mughini-Gras, National Institute of Public Health and the Environment (RIVM)
Joke van der Giessen, National Institute of Public Health and the Environment (RIVM)
Eelco Franz, National Institute of Public Health and the Environment (RIVM)
Ardine de Wit, National Institute of Public Health and the Environment (RIVM)
Jurgen Chardon, National Institute of Public Health and the Environment (RIVM)
Dante Spekken, National Institute of Public Health and the Environment (RIVM)
Sarah Gabriël, Ghent University
Wilma Steeneveld, Utrecht University
Gerdien van Schaik, Utrecht University
Ana Maria Pirvulescu, Utrecht University
Enrico Bonino, Esri BeLux

Financial source / funding institution: European Food Safely Agency (EFSA)