OCCUPATION AND HEALTH ›› 2026, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (17): 2349-2353.

• Treatise——Food Safety and Nutrition • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Epidemiological and etiological characteristics analysis of foodborne diseases among students in Tianjin from 2015 to 2025

ZHAO Shuai, SHEN Zhitong, WANG Shiyu, MA Jie()   

  1. Tianjin Centers for Disease Control and PreventionTianjin 300011, China
  • Received:2026-04-21 Revised:2026-06-03 Online:2026-09-01 Published:2026-08-14
  • Contact: MA Jie E-mail:majie605@163.com

Abstract:

Objective To understand the characteristics of foodborne disease cases among students in Tianjin from 2015 to 2025,providing a scientific basis for formulating prevention and control policies for foodborne diseases among in-school students. Methods Through the Tianjin Foodborne Disease Surveillance and Reporting System,information on foodborne disease cases among students treated at sentinel hospitals in Tianjin from 2015 to 2025 was collected. Fecal specimens were obtained for specific pathogen detection,and the monitoring data were analyzed. Results From 2015 to 2025,a total of 3 428 foodborne disease cases among students were monitored in Tianjin,with a male-to-female ratio of 1.75 ∶ 1. The university group had the largest number of cases(1 024),and the high school group had the highest incidence rate(29.40/100 000). Disease onset showed two peaks in June and September. There was a statistically significant difference in the quarterly distribution of cases across different educational stages(χ2=22.861,P<0.05). The ring urban area had the most cases,and there was a statistically significant difference in the regional distribution of cases across different educational stages(χ2=230.676,P<0.05). Suspected exposure food categories were primarily mixed foods and multiple foods(22.29%),processing and packagin methods were mainly from the catering service sector(30.69%),and food sources were mainly other categories(28.44%). The overall pathogen detection rate was 8.93%,with norovirus showing the highest detection rate(11.81%),followed by Salmonella and diarrheagenic Escherichia coli. Differences in the distribution of different pathogens across exposure food categories and food source places were all statistically significant(all P<0.05). Conclusion From 2015 to 2025,the incidence of foodborne diseases among students in Tianjin exhibited summer-autumn peaks,with a higher proportion of cases among high school students,and norovirus was the predominant pathogen. It is recommended to strengthen food safety supervision in the catering service sector and to conduct targeted education on foodborne disease prevention and control for students and food business operators around campuses.

Key words: Student, Foodborne disease, Survelillance, Epidemiological characteristics, Etiology, Tianjin

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