Context: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has inaugurated Foodborne Pathogen Survey Network (ICMR-FoodNet) in the northeastern States of India. 

Foodborne Pathogen Survey Network (ICMR-FoodNet)

• The initiative is part of the project, started by ICMR, in 2020.

The integrated task force coordinates

• Project-based activity campaigns.

• Monitors foodborne enteric disease outbreaks.

• Conducts systematic laboratory-based surveillance in four North-East Indian states.

The project also includes

• Estimation of illness burden.

• Detection of specific pathogens responsible for outbreaks.

• Documenting antimicrobial resistance patterns among enteric bacteria.

Foodborne Pathogens Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet) 

• It is the principal foodborne disease component of the United States Center’s for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),Emerging Infections Program (EIP).  

• FoodNet is an active laboratory and population-based surveillance system to monitor the incidence of foodborne diseases and to conduct epidemiologic studies designed to help public health officials better understand the epidemiology of foodborne diseases of public health importance in the United States. 

Objectives  

• Determine the burden of foodborne illness in the United States 

• Monitor trends in the burden of specific foodborne illness over time 

• Attribute the burden of foodborne illness to specific foods and settings 

• Disseminate information that can lead to improvements in public health practice and the development of interventions to reduce the burden of foodborne illness