Scientists in Australia have found that Campylobacter linked to eating contaminated chicken accounts for almost half of the country’s healthcare costs linked to the foodborne disease. Using data from a 2018 to 2019 case-control study, researchers have estimated it costs the country $111 million annually.

Campylobacteriosis is a gastrointestinal disease caused by bacteria called Campylobacter and is considered to be the most common bacterial cause of human gastroenteritis in the world. It is largely spread through eating contaminated food, including contaminated, undercooked chicken.

Over the last decade, the amount of Campylobacteriosis cases in Australia has slowly increased, with 145 reported cases per 100,000 people. While most infections are generally mild, the disease can prove serious or fatal among vulnerable groups, including young children and the elderly.

Because of this incline in cases, researchers looked into the financial burdens the foodborne illness has. Taking data from a pre-existing case-control study, the team applied costs related to healthcare use, pain and suffering, premature mortality, and lost productivity.

Of the average $253 million spent every year on the foodborne illness, $111 million is attributed to Campylobacteriosis spread by consuming contaminated chicken meat. Due to the increase in incidence, regulators have been developing national foodborne illness reduction strategies focusing on the two most common bacteria that cause illness: Campylobacter and Salmonella.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) explained that Campylobacter species are killed by heat. To prevent Campylobacter infections, WHO recommends thoroughly cooking food, particularly chicken meat, and following all basic food hygiene practices when preparing food.