June 26, 2007

New Zealand reduces Campylobacter cases in poultry

New Zealand poultry producers may now be starting to see the effects of measures introduced in 2006 to reduce the level of campylobacter infection on chicken farms and processing plants.

The trend has been noted through the reduced number of human cases of campylobacter for the previous eight months.

Poultry Industry Association executive director, Michael Brooks, said monitoring has shown a reduction of about 10 percent in campylobacter levels at processing plants.

Although it may be premature to establish a direct link between poultry and  human cases, the industry hopes measures made last year to control the bacteria are making a difference.