The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has confirmed that one person has died and 207 others have been infected in a nationwide salmonella outbreak, with evidence pointing to imported eggs as the source. The agency has ruled out UK-produced eggs or poultry as the origin of the contamination.
The affected individuals range in age from under one year to 90 years old, according to the UKHSA, which is leading the investigation. Among the cases, at least 34 people were hospitalised with salmonellosis, the illness caused by salmonella, and two developed bloodstream infections.
Investigation details and case distribution
Whole-genome sequencing has revealed that all 207 cases are linked to a single strain of salmonella, indicating a common source. The first case was identified on 11 August 2025, but the majority have been reported since mid-October 2025.
Geographically, the cases are distributed across the UK: 199 in England, six in Scotland, one in Wales, and one in Northern Ireland. Within England, London has recorded 47 cases, while Yorkshire and the Humber has 38 cases. The UKHSA is collaborating with other European countries through their joint surveillance system to trace the outbreak's origin.
Food chain links and public health advice
Interviews with 114 of the infected individuals identified five food businesses where at least two independent cases had attended in the week before symptoms appeared, linking 24 cases in total. The agency did not name these establishments. Food chain investigations have found that these premises are supplied by eggs from multiple sources, including importers, and have noted possible cross-contamination risks in two settings. However, no link to UK-produced eggs or poultry has been established.
Hannah Charles, the UKHSA's lead epidemiologist for gastrointestinal infections, stated: "We're working with the Food Standards Agency and other public health agencies to investigate a salmonella outbreak that may be linked to eggs imported from outside of the UK." She added that salmonellosis is often caused by eating or handling contaminated food and can rarely spread from person to person, with symptoms including diarrhoea, stomach cramps, and sometimes vomiting and fever.
Charles advised the public to wash hands thoroughly after using the bathroom and before preparing food, cook food thoroughly, and avoid handling food for others if experiencing symptoms. The UKHSA's notice, issued on Tuesday morning, said: "Extensive epidemiological and food chain investigations are ongoing to identify the source and origin of the contamination responsible for illness." The agency has not released details of the deceased individual, citing an ongoing investigation.
