Dutch agency reports rise in outbreaks

The Netherlands recorded a rise in foodborne outbreaks in 2024 and has provided details about a multi-country Salmonella outbreak.

Significant increases were observed for Salmonella Enteritidis, Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), hepatitis A virus, and norovirus. The rise in Salmonella Enteritidis reflects a higher prevalence in the laying hen sector, where contaminated eggs are the main cause of human infections.

According to a National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) report, the number of reported foodborne outbreaks was 1,179 with 5,388 patients. This is up from 912 outbreaks in 2023 but similar to levels in 2022.

In 31 outbreaks, a pathogen was identified, with norovirus being the most frequently reported, followed by Salmonella. The largest, with 717 cases, was a norovirus outbreak related to a café serving drinks during King’s Day. A sick employee unknowingly spread the virus during the asymptomatic period. The employee reported sick when symptoms appeared and the café sent them home.

Healthcare costs associated with 14 selected pathogens were estimated at €566 million ($665 million). This is more than €553 million ($650 million) in 2023. Estimated costs caused by contaminated food was €192 million ($225 million). This is slightly less than €193 million ($227 million) in 2023.

Part of multi-country outbreak
There were 1,665 salmonellosis patients, up from 1,516 in 2023. The number of infections was highest among 1 to 4 year olds and people aged 15 to 35.  

Nine Salmonella outbreaks had 192 patients. In at least five of them, patients were hospitalized, and one death was reported. The largest event, with 79 cases, was a nationwide outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis linked to eggs.

Outbreak investigations were conducted for six clusters. Three were because of Salmonella Enteritidis, two of which are ongoing. The other three were caused by Salmonella Typhimurium or the monophasic variant and linked to imported beef, steak tartare and dried sausage.

One was an international outbreak with more than 325 cases in Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. The outbreak in the UK was part of a cluster that began in October 2020. Investigations in Denmark pointed to meat from the UK as the likely source. English authorities confirmed a link to a slaughterhouse and Hilton Foods traced the issue to one of its suppliers. 

A total of 40 Dutch patients were recorded: 18 men and 22 women with a median age of 26. Dutch cases primarily consumed steak or carpaccio while Danish and English patients mainly had ground (minced) meat.

E. coli, Listeria and Hepatitis A
Cases of infection from shiga toxin producing E. coli went up from 573 to 645. Overall, 36 different O-types were found but the most frequently detected were O157, O26, O145 and O103. A person older than 65 died directly or indirectly because of an E. coli infection.

Eleven patients developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) including five children aged up to 6, two teenagers, one person in their 30s, and three people aged over 75.

About a quarter of patients said they likely contracted the infection abroad. The most frequently mentioned countries were Egypt, Turkey, Morocco and Indonesia.

There were 115 Listeria infections, up from 95 in 2023. Ten adults died directly or indirectly from the infection and three babies were stillborn or died shortly after birth.

Whole genome sequencing identified 38 clusters. Three clusters from previous years, where contamination was linked to fish processing locations, grew in 2024. A new cluster with one isolate in 2023 and three in 2024 was traced to a smoked eel firm.

Hepatitis A cases rose from 153 in 2023 to 238. In two clusters, food was the likely route of transmission. In the first, 14 of 24 people fell sick in 2024 and the source was frozen blueberries. Wageningen Food Safety Research detected HAV RNA in two opened packs from one patient. In the second, 10 people were ill and grapes were a possible source.

In 2024, 4,735 campylobacteriosis patients were registered and 32 clusters were detected with a range of two to 15 isolates. Only one outbreak was reported by local health services involving two people who became infected in Thailand.

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Source: https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2025/10/dutch-agency-reports-rise-in-outbreaks/