Figure.

PUBLIC HEALTH LABORATORY SERVICE

Salmonella infections in England and Wales have dropped to their lowest recorded level since 1986, according to the latest report by the Communicable Disease Centre. There were 17000 salmonella infections reported in 1999, down 27%from 1998. A spokesman for the Public Health Laboratory Service said that there had been a 50%drop in salmonella infections in the past two years and this was very significant. He continued: “There are a number of factors likely to be behind the reduction. For example, there have been a number of initiatives to increase public awareness and promote better hygiene during food preparation. Also, the industry has been making efforts to control the problem—for example, by vaccinating chickens against salmonella.” He added that over the next few months the Public Health Laboratory Service would be trying to ascertain the exact reasons for the dramatic fall in salmonella infections