WHO estimates of the global, regional, and national burden of eight foodborne non-diarrhoeal enteric disease hazards, 2000–21: an updated data synthesis
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Foodborne diseases cause substantial illness and death globally. We updated WHO estimates of the burden caused by non-diarrhoeal enteric disease hazards: Brucella spp; Clostridium botulinum; hepatitis A virus; Listeria monocytogenes; Mycobacterium bovis,Mycobacteriumcaprae, and Mycobacteriumorygis; invasive non-typhoidal Salmonella enterica (iNTS); S enterica serotypes Paratyphi A, B, and C; and S enterica serotype Typhi (S Typhi). METHODS: We estimated illnesses, deaths, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) for 194 countries for 2000-21 using data from systematic reviews, the 2021 Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2021, a structured expert judgement study, and WHO country consultations. We used disease-specific computational models and hierarchical metaregression modelling with geographical clustering, a global linear time trend, and uncertainty propagation. FINDINGS: In 2021, transmission of these eight hazards by food collectively caused 24·0 million illnesses (95% uncertainty interval 16·9-31·7), 106 000 deaths (63 900-169 000), and 7·26 million DALYs (4·15-12·0). S Typhi, iNTS, and hepatitis A virus caused most DALYs. The greatest burden was in the WHO African region, followed by the South-East Asia region. Mortality was 5·2 times higher and DALY rates were 8·3 times higher in children younger than 5 years compared with people aged 5 years and older. The burden for all hazards, except L monocytogenes, decreased from 2000 to 2021, with S Typhi replacing iNTS as the leading cause of foodborne DALYs. INTERPRETATION: Non-diarrhoeal enteric diseases still cause considerable foodborne disease burden, despite decreases over time. Vulnerable populations, particularly children in low-income countries, bear the greatest burden. Integrated efforts including vaccination, food safety, clean water, sanitation, hygiene, and improved health-care access are required. FUNDING: WHO.
Source: The Lancet Global Health
Authors: Shannon E Majowicz, Elaine Scallan Walter, Sara M Pires, Yuki Minato, Luria L Founou, Brecht Devleesschauwer, Carlotta di Bari, Arie H Havelaar, Louise Vaes, Teresa Estrada-Garcia, Charlee Roberts, Tesfaye Gobena, Ashok Kumar, Fadi Al Natour, Robin J Lake, Gabriela F Nane, Kim Fernandez, John A Crump, Martyn D Kirk, Antonio Agudo, Mohammed Al Huthiel, Fadi Al Natour, Li Bai, Beau Bruce, Brecht Devleesschauwer, Sithar Dorjee, Teresa Estrada-Garcia, Luria L Founou, Tesfaye Gobena, Sandra Hoffmann, Lea Sletting Jakobsen, Karen Keddy, Martyn D Kirk, Mirjam Kretzschmar, Kunihiro Kubota, Ashok Kumar, Robin J Lake, Shannon E Majowicz, Lapo Mughini-Gras, Sara M Pires, Tety Rachmawati, Lucy Robertson, Elaine Scallan Walter, Banchob Sripa
Institutions: University of Waterloo, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz, Technical University of Denmark, World Health Organization, University of St Andrews, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Ghent University, Sciensano (Belgium), University of Florida, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Haramaya University, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority, New Zealand Institute for Public Health and Forensic Science, Delft University of Technology, University of Otago, Australian National University
Language: English
Subfield: Food Science
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $6,680
OpenAlex ID: W7164808433