Patients have been linked to a shared meal program at several schools
Published:
Danish authorities have reopened an investigation into a Salmonella outbreak after more people fell sick.
Since April 2026, the Statens Serum Institut (SSI) has recorded 33 cases of the same type of Salmonella Enteritidis.
Before the summer holidays, SSI, the Danish Veterinary, Food, Agriculture and Fisheries Agency, and the National Food Institute linked patients to a shared meal program at several schools in Sjælland. This program is also connected to eight cases recorded since the summer break.
SSI is responsible for whole genome sequencing isolates from patients and for conducting patient interviews to identify a possible source of infection.
Initial interviews with patients or their parents revealed that ill people had received meals from the same provider at several different schools in Sjælland. At the time, it was not possible to identify a specific source of infection, but the investigation resumed after recent cases were linked to the same meal service.
Affected individuals are 17 males and 16 females. Patients are mainly children aged 3 to 15. However, six adults aged 21 to 63 have also fallen sick.
Whole genome sequencing of bacteria isolated from patients shows they all belong to sequence type 11 and that they are very closely genetically related. This means there is likely to be a common source of infection.
Second Salmonella outbreak
Officials are also continuing to search for the source of a different Salmonella outbreak.
SSI has recorded 33 cases of Salmonella Typhimurium between Aug. 4 and 27.
Those affected are 12 men and 21 women. Patients range from 6 to 83 years old with a median age of 45. Eleven cases live in Syddanmark, 10 in Midtjylland, seven in Nordjylland, three in Sjælland, and two in Hovedstaden.
Whole genome sequencing of samples from patients revealed they are sequence type 19 and are closely genetically related.
Joe Whitworth
Prior to reporting for Food Safety News, Whitworth worked for William Reed as editor of Food Quality News before becoming food safety editor for Food Navigator. He was named in the Top 40 Food Safety Professionals Under 40 in 2023.
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