Case control study of food-borne illnesses in humans in central region of Bosnia and Herzegovina during 2006.

Integration and industrialization of food production chain and implementation of the surveillance system “from a stable to the table” have decreased frequency of outbreaks of food-borne diseases and concurrently increased magnitude of their consequences (number of cases, severity of clinical symptoms, antimicrobial resistance, etc.). The lack of a uniform reporting system on food-borne illnesses in humans, under-reporting and poor communication between veterinary and public health sectors in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), additionally impair the insight into the state and size of the problems in this area. Certain progress in forming and strengthening of the institutional capacities as well as recent frequent occurrences of “food poisoning” have had huge impact on reaffirmation of the needs for systematic epidemiological research in the area of food safety. As a part of the feasibility study for the “Regional Center for Food, Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine”, financed by the EU RED (Regional Economic Development) Fund, we conducted the random survey of the population sample in Srednjobosanski and Zenicko-dobojski Canton during 2006. In the overall sample of participants we had identified cases (families with recorded cases of food-borne illnesses in a previous year) and controls. Cases and controls were matched one on one according to the family size (number of adults and children), educational level of adults and category of the monthly income. Investigated outcome was recorded dichotomously and numerically as well as the type and kind of the incriminated food source, and severity of clinical symptoms. Our study shows that nowadays, food represents a much higher risk for human health despite increased attention given to the food safety by today’s consumers, producers and food inspectors. Key words: case control, food-borne illnesses, central region of BiH