Burden of foodborne diseases in the South-East Asia Region

Overview

Globally, billions of people are at risk of foodborne diseases (FBDs) and millions
fall ill from these every year. Many die as a result of consuming unsafe food. FBDs
can also affect economic development through the tourism, agricultural and
food export industries. The South-East Asia Region has the second highest
burden of FBDs after the African Region, with more than 150 million cases and
175 000 deaths annually.

The World Health Organization has launched a comprehensive and first of
its kind report to estimate the global and regional burden of FBDs. This report will
support policy-makers in implementing the right strategies to prevent, detect and
manage foodborne risks to improve food safety. It highlights the work of WHO's
Regional Office for South-East Asia with national governments on improving
surveillance of foodborne diseases and meeting unique local challenges.