185 cases reported linked to the global Salmonella outbreak
Latest news from Public Health France (Santé Publique France) reported a total of 59 salmonellosis cases in France as of April 27, linked to the recent infamous outbreak of Salmonella typhimurium in Europe and the US. In combination with the report from WHO, this global outbreak of Salmonella has resulted in 185 cases reported in 11 countries across the globe by the end of April.
Salmonella is the bacteria that causes Salmonellosis, one of the most common foodborne diseases. It is usually characterized by acute onset of fever, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, nausea and sometimes vomiting. Salmonella typhimurium is one of the two major serotypes of Salmonella that cause infection in humans.
The outbreak was notified to WHO on 27 March 2022 by the United Kingdom, announcing a cluster of cases with monophasic Salmonella typhimurium. Investigations found that the outbreak is associated with Kinder chocolate products produced in Belgium, which have been distributed to at least 113 countries across the globe. It originated in buttermilk tanks contaminated with Salmonella in Belgium in December 2021 and January 2022. After being treated with hygiene measures and negative Salmonella testing, all Kinder products manufactured at the implicated facility were distributed across Europe and globally. Consequently, a global recall was alerted at the beginning of April, regardless of the product's expired date.
As of 27 April 2022, a total of 185 genetically related cases of S. typhimurium suspected to be linked to the consumption of the implicated chocolate products have been reported from 11 countries: Belgium (26 cases), France (59 cases), Germany (10 cases), Ireland (15 cases), Luxembourg (1 case), the Netherlands (2 cases), Norway (1 case), Spain (1 case), Sweden (4 cases), the United Kingdom (65 cases) and the United States of America (1 case).
The Salmonella strain causing the outbreak is reported to be resistant to six types of antibiotics: penicillins, aminoglycosides, phenicols, sulfonamides, trimethoprim, and tetracyclines, according to the United Kingdom Health Security Agency.
Sources:
https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2022-DON369
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