Outbreak of Salmonella enteritidis in Denmark
Starting from May 2023, the Statens Serum Institut has documented 20 cases of the same type of Salmonella Enteritidis infection. Collaborative efforts involving the Statens Serum Institut, the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration, and the Norwegian Food Institute DTU are actively investigating this outbreak. This occurrence is part of a broader international outbreak, with suspicions pointing towards imported chicken kebabs as the potential source.
Between May and July of 2023, the Statens Serum Institut identified and recorded 20 cases of individuals infected with the identical strain of Salmonella Enteritidis. The age range spans from 10 to 99 years, with a median age of 30 years. The affected patients are spread across various regions of the country.
The bacterium in question is categorized as Salmonella Enteritidis. Through comprehensive analysis of the bacteria isolated from patients using whole-genome sequencing, it became evident that these strains were closely related. Furthermore, all of them fell under sequence type 11, which is the most commonly encountered Salmonella strain in both Denmark and the broader European context.
