The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has declared a national outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis, with 207 confirmed cases across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, one death, and early evidence pointing to imported eggs as the likely source.
Key Takeaways
- UKHSA confirmed 207 cases of the same Salmonella strain between August 2025 and August 2026, with the vast majority (206) reported in 2026 and a sharp rise detected starting in May.
- 38% of patients with hospitalization data were admitted to hospital, two developed serious bloodstream infections, and one person has died.
- Whole genome sequencing shows all cases share a genetic fingerprint, indicating a likely single, common source of contamination.
- This outbreak is genetically related to a separate 2025 Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak also linked to imported eggs, suggesting a persistent contamination issue rather than an isolated incident.
- The investigation is ongoing, and officials haven’t yet named a specific supplier, brand, or country of origin.
What UKHSA Has Confirmed So Far
Officials identified the outbreak after noticing an unusual rise in Salmonella Enteritidis cases sharing the same genetic profile, detected through whole genome sequencing — a technique that allows investigators to confirm whether separate illnesses trace back to the same contamination source, rather than being unrelated cases that happen to involve the same bacteria species. All 207 cases fell within the same five-SNP genetic cluster, a level of genetic similarity that strongly indicates a shared source rather than coincidence.
Of the confirmed cases, 199 were in England (47 in London, 38 in Yorkshire and the Humber), with six in Scotland and one each in Wales and Northern Ireland. Those affected ranged in age from infants to people in their 90s. Hannah Charles, UKHSA’s lead epidemiologist for gastrointestinal infections, said the agency is working with the Food Standards Agency and other public health bodies to investigate a possible link to eggs imported from outside the UK, though the investigation into the specific source remains active.
How Serious This Outbreak Has Been
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