The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 31 foodborne diseases (11 diarrhoeal diseases, 7 invasive infectious disease agents, 10 helminths, 3 chemicals) caused by 31 agents resulted in 600 million illnesses, or 1 in 10 people, and 420,000 deaths in 2010. Infectious diseases that led to diarrhoeal diseases (1 virus, 7 bacteria, 3 protozoa) accounted for 550 million cases of illness, led by norovirus and Campylobacter, at 550 million and 120 million cases, respectively. Invasive infectious disease agents, helminthes, and chemicals and toxins (aflatoxin, cassava cyanide, dioxin) accounted for 36 million, 13 million and 218,000 cases of illness, respectively. Diarrhoeal diseases and invasive infectious disease agents respectively accounted for 230,000 and 118,000 deaths. A third of deaths caused by foodborne diseases were in the African Region. Children under five years of age represent 40% of the foodborne disease burden and account for one-third of deaths from foodborne disease.

Source: WHO