Norwegian health authorities are investigating the cause of a sudden increase in Salmonella infections that has infected more than 30 people.
The Norwegian Public Health Institute (FHI) said the number of people infected with Salmonella typhi has been increasing in recent months, with 33 cases so far this year.
The cases are from all age groups and live across Norway, with the majority believed to have been acquired in Norway and not related to travel.
Find the source of contamination.
In cooperation with the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (Mattilsynet) and the Veterinary Institute, FHI has initiated enhanced surveillance of all confirmed cases of Salmonella Typhimurium.
Authorities will question some of the symptomatic people to see if there is a common source of infection.
The Norwegian Food Safety Authority is collecting information from some of the people who have fallen ill about what they ate before becoming ill and who they had contact with.
Salmonella is rare in Norway. The incidence is low in Norwegian livestock and domestically produced food, but food imported from countries where Salmonella is more prevalent may pose a risk of infection.
In 2023, there were three Salmonella outbreaks in Norway, affecting 14 people. A Salmonella quintambo outbreak affecting five people was traced to sesame products from Syria and was part of a multi-year, multi-country incident. A Salmonella Napoli outbreak affecting seven people was suspected to be caused by imported leafy greens.
Officials said good kitchen and hand hygiene can help prevent the spread of Salmonella between foods and people, and recommended cooking food thoroughly and washing fruits and vegetables.
Salmonella outbreak in Denmark
Meanwhile, Denmark has recorded new salmonella outbreaks following two recent outbreaks.
A total of 66 people have fallen ill due to an outbreak of Salmonella typhimurium linked to ground beef from England, prompting Hilton Foods Denmark to recall various types of ground beef in May.
According to the National Serum Institute (SSI), the cases were recorded between March and June: 38 men and 28 women. The cases range in age from under one year old to 83 years old, with an average age of 51 years.
Additionally, an outbreak of monophasic Salmonella typhi infected 58 people in April, May and June.
The infected people are 35 men and 23 women, ranging in age from under 1 year old to 85 years old, with an average age of over 41 years old.
The source of this infection is still being investigated by SSI, the Danish Veterinary and Food Agency (Fødevarestyrelsen) and the DTU Food Institute. Interviews with patients point to contaminated ground beef as the vector of infection.
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