Experts weigh regional strategy to combat food-borne diseases

PulseNet has supported member nations in detecting and tracing food-borne infections worldwide

Published: 12:15 April 26, 2010

Muscat: Health and food safety experts wrapped up two days of deliberations in Muscat on Monday, focused on helping countries around the region strengthen their national capabilities in fighting food-borne diseases.

The meeting was organised jointly by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Association of Public Health Laboratories (Washington), in coordination with Oman’s Ministry of Health.

Epidemiologists representing countries from around the Middle East, all of which are members of PulseNet International network, attended the two-day meeting.

PulseNet has supported member nations in detecting and tracing food-borne infections worldwide, while also helping develop an effective global early warning system through its network of laboratories.

The establishment of PulseNet Middle East in 2006 as a molecular surveillance network for food-borne infections has strengthened regional food safety collaboration.

Participants appealed for greater cooperation in dealing with potential outbreaks in food-borne diseases in the region.

Summing up this appeal, the Health Ministry’s top adviser, Dr Ali Jaffer Mohammed stated: “In modern times, rapid globalisation of food production and trade has increased the potential likelihood of food contamination. Many outbreaks of food-borne diseases that were once contained within a small community may now take place on global dimensions. All over the world, food safety authorities acknowledge that ensuring the safety of food must not only be tackled at the national level but also through closer linkages among food safety authorities at the international level.”

Experts warn that food contamination has the potential to create an enormous social and economic strain on societies. The economic losses can stem from medical costs and lost productivity, and also export bans imposed by importing countries or international food safety authorities.

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