Towards an improved estimation of the burden of bacterial foodborne diseases

The main objectives of this thesis were to contribute to assessing the burden of bacterial foodborne diseases (FBD) in the world and in Belgium and to investigate methods to improve burden of bacterial FBD estimations. To achieve the first objective, we calculated the global burden of listeriosis through a systematic review and meta-analysis and evaluated the burden of listeriosis, salmonellosis and campylobacteriosis in Belgium using time series analysis. To answer the second objective, we performed an in depth investigation of incidence data needed to assess the Years Lived with Disabilities by describing comorbidities associated with non-perinatal listeriosis. Then we proposed a new set of disability weights for infectious diseases based on European respondents and we evaluated differences in health valuation across participant’s characteristics. Finally we developed an approach to map utilities to disability weights.