Salmonella cases rise in Norway; Outbreaks continue in Denmark

Norwegian health officials are investigating the reasons behind a spike in Salmonella cases, which have sickened more than 30 people.

The Norwegian Institute of Public Health (FHI) said the number of people infected with Salmonella typhimurium has increased in recent months. So far this year, 33 people have fallen sick.

Patients live all over the country and come from all age groups. Most are thought to have been infected in Norway and are not travel-related.

Search for contaminated sources.
With help from the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (Mattilsynet) and the Veterinary Institute, FHI has started enhanced monitoring of all confirmed cases of Salmonella Typhimurium.

Some ill people will be interviewed so officials can try to find out if there is a common source of infection.

The Norwegian Food Safety Authority is collecting information from several sick people about what they ate and their contacts before falling ill.

Outbreaks of Salmonella are rare in Norway. The incidence is lower among Norwegian livestock and domestically produced food, but imported foodstuffs from countries where Salmonella is more common can pose a risk of infection.

In 2023, Norway had three Salmonella outbreaks that affected 14 people. A Salmonella Kintambo outbreak with five cases was traced to sesame seed products from Syria. This is part of a multi-year and multi-country incident. Imported leafy vegetables were suspected in a Salmonella Napoli outbreak with seven patients.

Authorities said good kitchen and hand hygiene can prevent the spread of Salmonella bacteria between foods and between people. They advised people to cook food thoroughly and to wash fruit and vegetables.

Danish Salmonella outbreaks
Meanwhile, Denmark has updated the number of cases in two recent Salmonella outbreaks.

A total of 66 people are sick in a Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak linked to ground (minced) beef from England. Hilton Foods Danmark recalled a variety of ground beef in May.

The Statens Serum Institut (SSI) said patients were recorded from March to June. They include 38 men and 28 women. The cases range from under 1 to 83, with a median age of 51.

Also, a monophasic Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak has now affected 58 people in April, May, and June.

The sick are 35 men and 23 women. Their ages range from under 1 to 85, with a median age of above 41.

SSI, the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration (Fødevarestyrelsen), and the DTU Food Institute are still searching for the source of this outbreak. Interviews with patients have pointed to contaminated ground beef as the vehicle of infection.

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