Epidemic characteristics of 151 foodborne disease outbreaks caused by Century egg in Mianyang City

ObjectiveOver analysis of epidemiological characteristics of foodborne disease events caused by Century eggs in Mianyang City， we provide scientific basis and technical guidance for the effective prevention and control of such foodborne disease events.MethodsA descriptive analysis was conducted by collecting outbreaks caused by Century eggs in Mianyang reported by Mianyang City through the Foodborne Disease Outbreak Surveillance System from 2014 to 2023.ResultsFrom 2014 to 2023， it was reported 151 foodborne disease outbreaks caused by eating Century eggs in Mianyang City， with 515 cases and 1 death. The attack rate was 69.41% and the fatality rate was 0.19%， accounting for 21.98% of the foodborne disease outbreaks reported in the same period. The period from May to September was the high incidence period of foodborne disease outbreaks caused by eating Century eggs， accounting for 82.78% of the reported incidents. the main places of occurrence were families， accounting for 90.07% of the total number of incidents. The source of Century eggs purchased was mainly home-made， accounting for 37.75% of the reported incidents； Century eggs were eaten directly in cold sauce or raw， accounting for 100.00% of the reported events； In the events where the pathogen has been identified， the pathogen was always Salmonella， accounting for 77.48% of the reported incidents， and the serotype was mainly Salmonella typhimurium.ConclusionCentury eggs were the main cause of foodborne Salmonella outbreak in Mianyang City.Therefore， monitoring and early warning should be strengthened in high-risk areas， peak seasons， and key venues， and targeted health education and publicity on related food safety should be carried out. The family should be the focus of prevention and health education. We should guide the public not to home made Century eggs， fully cook Century eggs before consumption， so as to minimize foodborne disease outbreaks caused by Century eggs.