One person dead and more than 200 ill in UK salmonella outbreak

Outbreak Overview

One person has died and more than 200 others have fallen ill in a salmonella outbreak that health officials have linked to imported eggs. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reported 207 cases in the past year, with the majority occurring in recent weeks. The affected individuals range from under one year old to 90 years old.

More than a third of those affected required hospital treatment. Two people developed bloodstream infections, and one of them died. The UKHSA said it could not release details of the death because it is part of an ongoing investigation.

The outbreak, caused by the Salmonella Enteritidis strain, has been confirmed through whole-genome sequencing to be a single strain. The first case was identified on 11 August 2025, with most cases occurring since mid-July.

Regional and Case Details

Geographically, 199 cases are in England, 6 in Scotland, and one each in Wales and Northern Ireland. In England, London has 47 cases and Yorkshire and the Humber have 38. Interviews with 114 people who fell ill identified five food businesses, which the agency did not name, where two or more independent cases reported attending in the week before symptom onset. These businesses link 24 cases in total.

Food chain investigations have so far identified premises supplied by eggs from multiple sources, including importers.

Origin and Investigation

While the UKHSA has ruled out UK-produced eggs or poultry as the source, it has not publicized which country the eggs came from. This has prompted calls for transparency. Paul Wigley, a professor in animal microbial ecosystems at the University of Bristol, said in the Daily Express that the source of contaminated eggs should be public information and that restrictions should be imposed if necessary.

The British Egg Industry Council's 'Shell Shocked' report indicates that UK imports have increased by 600 million eggs since 2021, largely from Ukraine and Poland, though neither country has been identified as the source.

Officials are working with other European countries through their joint surveillance system to identify how the outbreak began. The UKHSA's notice issued Tuesday morning said that extensive epidemiological and food chain investigations are ongoing.

Public Health Advice

Despite the outbreak, public health experts reassure that eggs are safe to eat if handled properly. Thorrun Govind, a pharmacist, said in Metro that people do not need to stop eating eggs, but should be more mindful about which ones they buy. For vulnerable groups, including those who are pregnant, it is important to look for the red British Lion mark or Laid in Britain scheme. She also recommends washing hands, cooking eggs properly, avoiding cross-contamination, keeping eggs below 5°C (5°C), and respecting use-by dates.

The symptoms of salmonella include nausea, diarrhoea, a high temperature, and general discomfort, and in rare cases can lead to severe complications such as bloodstream infections.