One dead and hundreds ill in UK salmonella outbreak

In the United Kingdom, a person has died and hundreds have fallen ill from a salmonella food poisoning outbreak, with experts believing it is linked to imported eggs. The UK Health Security Agency is investigating 207 cases over the past year, with recent cases dominating. Over a third of those affected, including babies and older individuals, required hospital care, and two developed severe blood poisoning.

Most people recover without treatment, but symptoms include stomach cramps, diarrhea, vomiting, or fever, typically emerging 12 to 72 hours after infection. The outbreak is characterized by a specific, identical strain of salmonella. Symptoms usually develop between 12 and 72 hours after becoming infected. Most cases (199) have been in England, including 47 in London and 38 in Yorkshire and Humber, with six in Scotland, one in Wales, and one in Northern Ireland.

Hannah Charles, the UKHSA's lead epidemiologist for gastrointestinal infections, stated that they are collaborating with the Food Standards Agency and other agencies to investigate the outbreak, which may be linked to eggs imported from outside the UK. Salmonella can be found in various food sources, including raw or under-cooked poultry, meat, and eggs.

Proper food preparation and hygiene practices, such as thoroughly cooking food and washing hands, can prevent infection. The UKHSA notes that while the risk to the general public is low, extensive investigations are ongoing to identify the source, but egg consumption remains the strongest link. Catering outlets should be considered when deciding where to eat, and people handling eggs, eggshells, or packaging should wash their hands thoroughly.