Fourth formal meeting of the foodborne disease burden epidemiology reference group (‎FERG)‎: sharing new results, making future plans, and preparing ground for the countries

Overview

This report summarizes the outcomes of the fourth formal meeting of the FERG (FERG 4), which was organized by the WHO in November 2010.

Continuing on the path taken during the previous FERG meeting, a large number of new foodborne disease morbidity, mortality and burden estimates were presented and discussed at FERG 4:

• The global burden of diarrheal diseases;
• The global burden of foodborne trematodiasis;
• The global burden of cystic echinococcosis;
• The global burden of neurocysticercosis;
• The global burden of aflatoxicosis; and
• The global burden of cassava cyanide ingestion.

In addition, the FERG experts appraised the progress made on the commissioned systematic reviews for other enterics, parasites and chemicals, and on the protocols to be used in the source attribution expert elicitation process and in the national FBD burden assessments and policy situation analyses. Each task force (TF) also made recommendations for new commissioned work.