Overview
- The UK Health Security Agency reported on 25 August that there were 259 confirmed cases and one death in the main Salmonella Enteritidis t5.9411 cluster, with additional related clusters accounting for further cases.
- Public health laboratories have used whole‑genome sequencing to identify three genetically related clusters (t5.9411, t0.24068, t5.9765) that have risen since June and point to a common exposure.
- Epidemiological work by UKHSA and the Food Standards Agency has linked infections to eggs imported for use by small cafés, restaurants and takeaways, and investigators are tracing international supply chains to locate the source.
- Officials advise that the overall risk to the general public is low but urge babies, young children, pregnant people, older adults and immunocompromised people to avoid raw or lightly cooked egg dishes when eating out and to follow strict hygiene and cooking practices.
- The outbreak has placed pressure on health services with a sizeable share of cases requiring hospital care and some developing bloodstream infections, and international probes have reported related cases and in some countries are also investigating poultry meat as a possible source.