The European Union One Health 2024 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 2024 in 27 Member States (MSs), the United Kingdom (Northern Ireland) and eight non-MSs, according to the Zoonoses Directive 2003/99/EC. Key statistics on zoonoses and zoonotic agents in humans, food, animals and feed are provided and interpreted historically. In 2024, the first and second most reported zoonoses in humans were campylobacteriosis and salmonellosis, respectively, followed by Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infections. Listeriosis was the fourth and most severe zoonotic disease, with the highest percentage of hospitalisations and the highest case fatality rate. The number of cases reported in the last 5 years showed a significant increasing trend in campylobacteriosis, salmonellosis, listeriosis and STEC infections. Fourteen MSs and the United Kingdom (Northern Ireland) met all targets for reducing Salmonella prevalence in poultry populations for the relevant serovars. Salmonella samples from various animal carcases, and samples for Campylobacter quantification in broiler carcases, were more frequently positive when carried out by the competent authorities than with food business operators' own checks. Twenty-seven MSs and the United Kingdom (Northern Ireland) reported more food-borne outbreaks, cases and hospitalisations in 2024 than in 2023, although the number of deaths decreased. Salmonella in 'eggs and egg products' was the agent/food pair of most concern. Salmonella was also the causative agent associated with the majority of multi-country outbreaks reported in the EU in 2024. Foods of non-animal origin, and in particular 'vegetables and other products thereof', caused the largest number of deaths in strong-evidence outbreaks. This report also provides updates on brucellosis, echinococcosis, trichinellosis, tuberculosis due to Mycobacterium bovis, rabies as well as other zoonotic bacteria, viruses and parasites in food and animals.