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FHI: Outbreak of salmonella confirmed in several Norwegian counties, ten people hospitalized

Salmonella testingPhoto: Thorkild Amdi / SCANPIX DANMARK

Salmonella infection cases have been registered in several counties, and the source of infection is probably a variety of food, the National Institute of Public Health (FHI) states.

Twelve people have been diagnosed with the gastrointestinal bacterium Salmonella Enteritidis. In addition, there are an additional eight suspected cases.

Ten people have become so ill that they had to be hospitalized.

The FHI believes that the source of infection is food, but they do not yet know which food exactly. 

“The infected live in many different counties. Therefore, we believe that they have been infected through a widely distributed food variety,” doctor Hilde Marie Lund at the Department of infection control and emergency preparedness said in a press release.

Trying to trace the source

The samples have been taken from the end of January until the last week of February. Nine cases of infection have been discovered in Viken, three in Oslo, two in the Inland, while Vestfold and Telemark, Agder, Rogaland, Vestland, Møre og Romsdal, and Nordland each have one case.

Work is underway to map whether patients can have a common source of infection. Patients are being interviewed, and the local Norwegian Food Safety Authority is taking samples from food products in their homes. 

“Investigation work can be complicated and time-consuming, and in many cases, it will not be possible to find the source of infection or to clarify whether it is a common source. 

“It is too early to say whether this is a limited outbreak or whether it will increase in scope. We are following the situation closely,” Lund said.

Salmonella bacteria are transmitted mainly through food. Outbreaks are relatively rare in Norway compared to most other European countries. Foods imported from countries where salmonella is more common than in Norway still pose a risk of infection.

Source: © NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today / #NorwayTodayNews

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