Germany has been hit hardest in a multi-country Salmonella outbreak linked to a rocket from Italy. As of late September, there are 98 cases in Germany. The Robert Koch Institut (RKI) believes this number may go up.
There are 16 patients in Austria and 23 in Denmark. The first cases were reported in Germany at the end of July. Since the beginning of August, there has been a significant increase in patients, with 16 to 18 cases per week.
All federal states except Bremen and Saarland are affected. Of the 98 cases, 55 are female and 43 are male. The average age of sick people is 37, but half of them are between 27 and 53 years old.
Nineteen people have been hospitalized, but no deaths have been reported. The occurrence of illnesses in Germany suggests that infections were caused by a food product distributed nationwide. RKI has questioned 28 sick people about their food consumption before the onset of illness.
The surveys provided evidence of a rocket, also known as arugula, as a possible outbreak vehicle. Since rocket is often offered in restaurants in mixed salads or as a side dish, officials said it is sometimes difficult for people to remember whether it was consumed. Salmonella Umbilo is normally a rare serovar.
From 2015 to 2023, one to six cases per year were reported to the RKI. Situation in Austria and Denmark Salmonella Umbilo was detected in a rocket from Italy in Austria. Samples were taken as part of the outbreak investigation.
Human Salmonella Umbilo isolates from G.
