One person has died and more than 200 others have been infected with salmonella in Britain amid investigations by health authorities into a possible link between the infection and imported eggs.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said that 207 confirmed cases have been recorded since the beginning of the year, noting that the cases are caused by a single strain of salmonella bacteria.
England recorded the most cases, with 199, compared to six in Scotland and one each in Wales and Northern Ireland. More than a third of those infected in England required hospital care.
The cases included people of various ages, including infants and people in their nineties, while two people suffered a serious bloodstream infection.
Health authorities are investigating the possibility that the outbreak is linked to eggs imported from outside the UK, especially since the current strain appears to be linked to a wave of infections recorded in 2025, which authorities at the time also linked to contaminated eggs.
Of the confirmed cases as of August 13, authorities identified 114 infections in five different food establishments, with the risk of transmission continuing in two of them.
But authorities have confirmed that there is still no evidence linking the outbreak to eggs or poultry produced in the UK.
Salmonella is usually transmitted through eating or touching contaminated food, and in rare cases, it can be transmitted from person to person. Symptoms of infection include diarrhea, stomach cramps, fever, and vomiting, and may appear within 72 hours of exposure to the bacteria.
In most cases, the infection is short-lived and the patient recovers within days, but the infection can be more serious in groups more prone to complications, and may lead to bloodstream infections, blood poisoning, and failure of several body organs.
Hannah Charles, a senior epidemiologist specializing in gastrointestinal infections, said authorities are working with the Food Standards Agency and other public health bodies to investigate the outbreak, noting that its likely source could be eggs imported from outside the UK.
London recorded the highest number of infections in England with 47 confirmed cases, followed by Yorkshire and Humber with 38 cases.
Dr. Damien Tolley, associate professor at the London School of Public Health, said the scale of the outbreak was large, but he suggested the actual number of infected people was likely higher than the confirmed cases.
He explained that some people infected with salmonella experience mild intestinal symptoms and recover without medical examinations, which means that many cases may not appear in official statistics.
Health officials advise washing hands thoroughly after using the toilet and before preparing or eating food, cooking food thoroughly, and avoiding preparing food for others when symptoms of infection appear.
It is not possible to tell if an egg is contaminated with salmonella by its shape, smell, or by examining its shell.
Authorities recommend buying eggs from reliable sources, storing them according to the instructions on the package, and checking the expiry date.
Eggs produced in the UK and bearing the British Lion seal or the "Made in Britain" logo are subject to additional controls to reduce the risk of salmonella, including vaccination and screening, and are classified as very low risk.
If the source of the eggs is uncertain, it is recommended to cook them thoroughly until the white and yolk are firm, washing hands after touching raw eggs and keeping them away from ready-to-eat foods.
Authorities are not currently recommending avoiding all types of eggs, stressing that investigations are focusing on the possibility that the outbreak is linked to eggs imported from outside the United Kingdom.
