01 September 2026
The 2024 annual report from the National Salmonella Reference Center at the Central Public Health Laboratories in Jerusalem highlights dynamic changes in serovar distribution across both the human population and the poultry sector. The primary finding is the re-emergence of Salmonella Enteritidis as the leading cause of human infection, alongside the continued decline of the Salmonella Virginia/Muenchen serovar.
In 2024, a total of 3,175 human cases were identified. This reflects an increase of approximately 11% compared to 2023 (2,872 cases) and brings human incidence back to levels comparable to 2022 (3,171 cases).
Following a five-year period (2018-2023) in which Salmonella Virginia/Muenchen predominated in Israel, 2024 saw a sharp 59% increase in Salmonella Enteritidis cases compared to 2023. This serovar accounted for 40.3% of all human isolates (1,284 isolates), up from 28.1% in 2023 (807 isolates) and 29.4% in 2022 (933 isolates). Morbidity associated with S. Enteritidis is strongly linked to table egg consumption and is characterized by persistent genetic clustering.
Concurrently, the isolation rate of Salmonella Virginia/Muenchen in humans dropped to 22.7% (723 isolates) in 2024, down from 31.5% in 2023 (906 isolates) and 35.4% in 2022 (1,124 isolates).
Approximately 44% of all human cases were concentrated among pediatric patients aged 0-4 years, a proportion consistent with the levels observed in 2022–2023 (44%-45%). This distribution underscores a critical public health reality: Salmonella is fundamentally a public health issue rather than an economic one, with a disproportionate burden falling on young children.
Poultry and Veterinary Isolates
A total of 720 isolates were obtained from animals and the poultry industry in 2024 (predominantly from poultry), compared to 762 in 2023 and 942 in 2022:
- Salmonella Virginia/Muenchen: Remained the most prevalent serovar at 29.0% (177 isolates). However, this marks a gradual decline from 2023 (33.3%, 254 isolates) and 2022 (29.6%, 279 isolates). According to the report's authors, the concurrent decline of S. Virginia/Muenchen in both humans and poultry during 2024 is attributed, in part, to the rollout of a targeted vaccination program in the poultry sector during 2023.
- S. Brancaster: Since its initial identification in Israel in 2020, this serovar has steadily established itself in both the poultry sector and human disease. In 2024, S. Brancaster ranked as the second most common serovar in animals and poultry, accounting for 9.3% of isolates (57 isolates), continuing an upward trend from 5.9% in 2022 and 7.2% in 2023. In humans, it ranked as the fourth most common serovar in 2024, representing 4.9% of isolates (156 isolates), although the rate of increase appeared to be stabilizing.
- Additional Serovars: Salmonella Typhimurium ranked third among animal and poultry isolates in 2024 (8.4%, 51 isolates), followed by Salmonella Enteritidis (5.5%, 33 isolates).
National Salmonella Reference Center, Central Public Health Laboratories, Public Health Services, Israel Ministry of Health. Ministry of Health Public Health Services Reports.
