Overview
- Health agencies report hundreds of infections across multiple European countries with UK surveillance recording 207 confirmed cases and one death linked epidemiologically to eggs used in restaurants and cafés.
- Belgium traced a separate large egg‑linked cluster to Laerco BV, triggering recalls, closure of the farm, culling of poultry and at least 300 confirmed illnesses after investigators found the outbreak strain on the farm.
- The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and Dutch investigators say the outbreak strain is Salmonella Enteritidis ST11 and that a small number of patients reported eating chicken meat, so chicken products are being actively investigated as an additional source.
- Agencies are using whole‑genome sequencing, patient interviews and supply‑chain traceback to link cases and identify contaminated batches while warning that official case totals likely undercount milder or untested infections.
- Public guidance stresses that thoroughly cooked eggs are safe, vulnerable people should avoid runny or raw egg dishes when eating out, and industry and farming groups are pressing for tighter import checks and stronger cross‑border controls.