The CDC confirmed that, as of July 1, the FoodNet program has reduced its surveillance to just two pathogens: Salmonella and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC). The program used to monitor infections caused by six additional pathogens: Campylobacter, Cyclospora, Listeria, Shigella, Vibrio, and Yersinia. Monitoring for the six pathogens is no longer required for the 10 states that participate in the program; however, these states aren’t precluded from conducting surveillance on their own. Food safety experts worry that the move could make it harder for public health officials to understand the prevalence of common foodborne illnesses or detect whether cases are increasing. FoodNet is a collaboration among the CDC, the FDA, the Agriculture Department, and 10 state health departments. Its surveillance area covers roughly 54 million people, or 16% of the U.S. population. The network includes Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Maryland, Minnesota, New Mexico, Oregon, Tennessee, and select counties in California and New York. The CDC claims that “Funding has not kept pace with the resources required to maintain the continuation of FoodNet surveillance for all eight pathogens.” The CDC spokesperson stated that other systems conduct national surveillance for the six pathogens that were removed from FoodNet; for example, the CDC’s Listeria initiative reports laboratory-confirmed cases of listeriosis. But FoodNet is the only surveillance system that actively looks for multiple foodborne diseases at the federal level, according to food safety experts. Other federal surveillance systems are passive, meaning the CDC relies on state health departments to report cases to it. FoodNet’s operations could hinder the identification and response to outbreaks quickly. https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/cdc-quietly-scaled-back-surveillance-program-foodborne-illnesses-rcna227089
