Infection salmonella in several provinces - Food is probably of unknown origin
The Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH) discovered an outbreak of the gastrointestinal bacterium Salmonella Enteritidis. 12 people were diagnosed with the bacterium.
In addition, there are eight suspicious cases. Cases of infection are geographically spread over large parts of Norway.
The source of the infection is likely food, but NIPH does not yet know what type of food it may be.
Real threat
- The infected live in many different counties. That's why we think they're infected with food that is widely distributed, says Dr. Hilde Marie Lund of Infection Control and Emergency Preparedness.
In total, there are 20 people in this epidemic so far, including both confirmed and suspected cases.
- We cooperate with the Norwegian Food Safety Authority and chief doctors in the communes where the outbreaks occurred. Investigative work can be complex and time-consuming. It is too early to say whether this is a limited epidemic or whether it will increase in extent, reports Lund.
Infected are between 11 and 91 years old, the average age is 59 years. 60 percent are women. The infected come from the regions of Viken (9), Oslo (3), Innlandet (2), Vestfold and Telemark, Agder, Rogaland, Vestland, Møre og Romsdal and Nordland.
10 cases were hospitalized
Bacteria from the Salmonella group are very common causes of food poisoning. The source of infection is primarily food products, mainly proteins, i.e. meat and its products, milk and its products, eggs and delicatessen products. Salmonella infection can occur due to improper food storage or due to poor dietary hygiene.
