Two reports issued by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) showed that Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and Listeria infections in the European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA) reached their highest levels in 2023 since the start of EU-wide surveillance in 2007, according to the latest annual epidemiological reports. In 2023, a total of 10,901 confirmed cases of STEC infection were reported across 30 EU/EEA countries, marking a 22% increase compared to 2022 and the highest annual notification rate (3.2 per 100,000 population) recorded to date. The rise in reported cases can partly be attributed to laboratory diagnostic tests that are more sensitive than traditional testing methods, allowing for broader testing beyond specific patient groups or symptom types. A total of 2,993 confirmed listeriosis cases, with 340 deaths, were reported in 2023, making it the highest annual number recorded to date. Indicators for disease severity show an increasing trend for both STEC infections and listeriosis. While the number of HUS cases stabilized at around 500 in 2023, following the record high in 2022, monitoring highly pathogenic STEC variants remains critical to guide public health management, including patient follow-up and providing enhanced surveillance guidance. ECDC continues to monitor these trends and urges health authorities to strengthen surveillance, prevention, and response measures to combat the rise in foodborne diseases across the EU/EEA. @ https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/news-events/record-high-rates-stec-and-listeria-infections-eueea-2023
