How many are infected with campylobacter?

In 2008 almost 3,500 people were infected with campylobacter in Denmark. This figure only includes those registered by Statens Serum Institut and it is estimated that the actual figure is probably 10-20 times higher because many do not seek medical help.

Campylobacter is currently the food bacterium that infects most people. In 1999 campylobacter outpaced salmonella in Denmark – a tendency to be seen in many western countries.

The figure below illustrates the amount of campylobacter infections from 1980 and onwards. It is most often private individuals who become sick with campylobacter. There are only few outbreaks where several people fall ill.

Source: Statens Serum Institut

More infections during the summer
People are most often infected during the summer, as the hygiene often fails when we barbeque in the outdoors. It can be tempting to use less kitchen tools and to skip hand washing but that is not a good idea. On top of that, there is far more campylobacter in poultry in the summer and poultry is considered the most vital source of campylobacter infection in Denmark.