The rate of people getting sick as part of three Salmonella outbreaks in the United Kingdom appears to be slowing down, according to the latest figures.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), Food Standards Agency (FSA), Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), and others are investigating the Salmonella Enteritidis clusters which have affected more than 500 people.
More than 170 sick people have been interviewed. In total, 143 reported eating food prepared outside the home in the week prior to symptom onset. Investigations have linked 47 cases to 11 businesses, with at least 24 infected people eating dishes containing egg. The eggs come from multiple sources, but two large importers have been identified and are being investigated further. Concerns about cross-contamination have also been raised.
Main EU-wide incident
Genetic relatedness of the clusters, along with food information, suggests illnesses are associated with eating imported eggs at small cafés, restaurants, and takeaways.
In the first cluster, there have been 322 confirmed cases and one death. Sample dates range from Aug. 11, 2025, to Aug. 21, 2026. In the past month, 135 infections have been reported in England.
Sick people range in age from younger than 1 to 90 years old with a median age of 30. Of 176 cases with available information, 44 have been admitted to hospitals. There was a notable increase in infections in April and May and a larger rise in July and August 2026.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) is also investigating this Salmonella Enteritidis sequence type 11 cluster.
In July, the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) restarted an investigation into a Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak that began in spring 2025. There are 111 patients with 31 in 2026, including 10 in June and eight in July. Only seven patient interview questionnaires have been received by RIVM, with the agency saying it is too early to draw any conclusions about the outbreak’s source.
There are 15 cases in Belgium, two in Austria, one in Denmark, four in France, and six in Germany. At least 34 people have been hospitalized.
Other clusters and countries
In a second cluster, there are 186 cases in England. Sample dates range from May 27, 2025, to Aug. 18, 2026. Patients are aged between younger than 1 to 92 with a median of 29 years old. Of 48 patients with information available, 22 were admitted to hospitals.
In a third cluster, there are 41 cases and one death, with sample dates ranging from Jan. 27 to Aug. 11, 2026. Cases range in age from under 1 to 87 with a median of 35 years old. Seven people have been hospitalized.
In Scotland, there are 13 confirmed cases. A dozen are in the first cluster and one in the third cluster reported by UKHSA. Sample dates are from April 1 to Aug. 10, 2026. Patients range in age from 2 to 78 with a median of 36 years old and 10 are female. Several people have reported bloody diarrhea but none have been hospitalized because of salmonellosis. There are two Scottish cases from 2025 in the second cluster.
Wales has 10 cases in the first cluster and two in the second. One patient in the first cluster lives in Northern Ireland. There are also two illnesses in either Jersey, Guernsey, or the Isle of Man.
