Epidemiology of human trichinellosis in Vojvodina province, Serbia, from 2005 to 2016

Trichinellosis is one of the most important foodborne diseases in the Eastern European countries. The main objective of this study was to investigate the epidemiological patterns of trichinellosis outbreaks that occurred between 2005 and 2016 in Vojvodina, a northern province of the Republic of Serbia. The average incidence was 3.5 per 100,000 inhabitants. A total of 828 people acquired the infection. The disease occurred in all age groups, slightly more often in males, and quite frequently in a severe form considering the high share of hospitalised patients and the fatal outcome rate (41.6 ± 31.1% and 0.4%, respectively). Trichinella spiralis was confirmed as the causative agent in eight outbreaks. The outbreaks usually occurred among family members due to the consumption of pork or traditional pork products from not tested backyard pigs. Veterinary control measures and the education of consumers and farmers should be implemented to control this zoonotic disease