Published: 20:41 BST, 27 August 2026 | Updated: 23:07 BST, 27 August 2026
Nearly 500 people have been confirmed ill following a Salmonella outbreak linked to imported eggs, UK authorities have said.
Salmonella cases have spiked by 25 per cent since July with 207 cases reported by The UK Health Security Agency last week alone.
But the total number of cases has now hit 474 and two people have died since the outbreak including one Brit.
Two new clusters of the infection have been identified as the cause of the recent spike, officials have said
However the outbreak is not just confined to the UK, Salmonella infections are being seen across Europe as seven countries are now affected by the outbreak.
There have been 106 reported cases of Salmonella in the Netherlands, 15 in Belgium, six in Germany and four cases in France.
Two cases of Salmonella have also been reported in Austria while there is just one case in Denmark.
UK Health chiefs believe 'imported eggs' is to blame for the crisis but investigations in the Netherlands have linked the outbreak to chicken meat and not eggs.
Salmonella infections are up 25 per cent on previous figures, with many infections likely to have occurred in recent weeks
The bacteria is most commonly found in a number of food sources such as raw or undercooked meat, poultry and eggs.
Salmonella symptoms include stomach cramps, diarrhoea, severe dehydration, blood poisoning, organ failure and, in the most severe cases, death.
Fortunately, most people who take ill often make a full recovery without requiring additional help or medical attention.
Since the outbreak began, the majority of cases have been recorded across London, Yorkshire and the Humber.
Although some cases have been reported in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
