The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is exploring the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the detection and investigation of foodborne illness outbreaks. Experts have evaluated various AI technologies for analyzing online restaurant reviews, which may aid in identifying and directing investigations into these outbreaks.
Foodborne gastrointestinal illnesses pose a significant problem in the UK, impacting millions annually, with most cases remaining undiagnosed. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) estimates up to 2.4 million illnesses arise from foodborne pathogens each year, leading to 16,400 hospitalizations and 180 fatalities, costing society £10.4 billion.
UKHSA’s specialists examined multiple large language models, assessing their efficiency in reviewing extensive online feedback for symptoms related to foodborne diseases, including diarrhea and abdominal pain, along with dietary habits involving various food items. Although this method could enhance data collection on illness rates not captured by existing systems, access to real-time data remains a challenge, necessitating careful interpretation of findings.
Researchers utilized the Yelp Open Dataset for their analysis, resulting in 1,148 reviews deemed relevant to gastrointestinal issues after manual annotation. However, the data collection may reflect a bias toward higher-income individuals, as only a small proportion of consumed food generates online reviews. The variability in pathogen incubation periods poses additional challenges, as individuals might incorrectly associate their symptoms with specific restaurants.
The chief data officer at UKHSA, stated that employing AI in conjunction with traditional epidemiological methods could enhance outbreak source identification, although further research and development is required before integrating this approach into standard practices. Furthermore, UKHSA is expanding the list of pathogens that healthcare professionals and laboratories must report, starting April 6, 2025 to reinforce surveillance and ensure timely responses to infectious disease outbreaks. New reporting requirements will include conditions such as Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and various pathogens like norovirus and tick-borne encephalitis virus, aiming to bolster local and national health responses.
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