Annual number of reported cases of listeriosis in France from 1999 to 2024

Between 1999 (the first year mandatory reporting was implemented) and 2005, the annual number of listeriosis cases fluctuated between 188 and 269 cases. This number increased between 2006 and 2020, fluctuating between 276 and 414 cases depending on the year.

Since 2021, the annual number of listeriosis cases has been rising sharply, with 619 cases reported in 2024. This upward trend is observed in all European countries.

In France, this increase does not appear to be linked to more frequent or larger-scale outbreaks; it appears to be linked to an aging population and the rise in age-related chronic diseases that increase the risk of listeriosis.

Annual numbers of listeriosis cases by clinical form, France 1999–2024

The increase in the annual number of listeriosis cases observed in recent years is mainly due to an increase in the number of bacteremic forms, and to a lesser extent, to an increase in other non-maternal-neonatal forms (neuro-meningeal and other forms). The annual number of listeriosis cases occurring during pregnancy has remained relatively stable, with fewer than 50 cases each year over the past two decades.

Annual incidence of listeriosis per million inhabitants in France, 1999–2024

Between 1999 and 2020, annual incidence rates ranged from 3.1 to 6.2 cases per million inhabitants. Since 2021, the incidence of listeriosis has been increasing, with variations depending on age and clinical presentation. In 2024, the incidence of listeriosis was 9 cases per million inhabitants.

The incidence of listeriosis varies by clinical form. The incidence of bacteremic forms of listeriosis has nearly tripled since 2005, while the incidence of neuromeningeal forms and other non-maternal-neonatal forms has increased to a lesser extent.

The incidence of maternal-neonatal listeriosis has declined steadily since the late 1990s, reaching 3.8 per 100,000 live births in 2018. Since then, there has been a rise in the incidence of maternal-neonatal listeriosis.

The incidence of listeriosis increases with age, particularly among people over 60 years of age, whereas among those under 60, the incidence remains generally stable. The sharpest increase in incidence is observed among the oldest individuals (≥ 90 years).

Average regional incidence of listeriosis per million people from 2021 to 2024

The incidence of listeriosis varies by geographic area. These geographic variations in incidence are partly linked to regional differences in dietary habits. Over the 2021–2024 period, the average regional incidence of listeriosis was highest in Brittany, Normandy, and Corsica. These regions with the highest incidence do not account for the upward trends observed throughout the country.