Germany has been hardest hit by a multi-country Salmonella outbreak linked to missiles from Italy.
At the end of September, there were 98 cases in Germany. The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) believes that this number could increase even further. There are 16 patients in Austria and 23 in Denmark.
The first cases were reported in Germany at the end of July. Since the beginning of August there has been a significant increase in the number of patients, with 16 to 18 cases per week. All states except Bremen and Saarland are affected.
Of the 98 cases, 55 are women and 43 are men. The average age of sick people is 37 years, but half of them are between 27 and 53 years old. Nineteen people have been hospitalized, but no deaths have been reported.
The occurrence of disease in Germany suggests that infections were caused by a food product that was distributed nationwide.
RKI interviewed 28 sick people about their food consumption before the onset of the disease. The studies showed that rocket, also called arugula, is a possible outbreak vehicle. Because arugula is often offered at restaurants in mixed salads or as a side dish, officials say it is sometimes difficult for people to remember whether it was consumed.
Salmonella Umbilo is normally a rare serovar. From 2015 to 2023, one to six cases were reported to the RKI annually.
Situation in Austria and Denmark
Salmonella Umbilo was found in a rocket from Italy in Austria. Samples were taken as part of the investigation into the outbreak.
Human Salmonella Umbilo isolates from Germany, Austria and Denmark are closely related, indicating a common source of contamination.
Since July, sixteen people in Austria have become ill from Salmonella Umbilo, three of whom required hospital treatment. People are affected in Carinthia, Upper Austria, Styria, Tyrol and Vienna.
The Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES), the Ministry of Health and relevant government authorities are investigating the outbreak. There is epidemiological and microbiological evidence that Italian-produced rockets are the vehicle of infection. Salmonella Umbilo was found in the rocket, but the affected batches are no longer available in stores.
The Statens Serum Institut (SSI) in Denmark has recorded 23 cases of Salmonella Umbilo since July.
Sixteen men and seven women are sick. Patients range from younger than 1 to 85 years old and the average age is 52 years.
The National Food Institute of the Technical University of Denmark, the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration (Fødevarestyrelsen) and SSI are investigating the incident.
Salmonella Umbilo is a rare serotype that has not been seen in Denmark since 2017, until the current incident.
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