Between January and July, there have been 209 cases of salmonella in Norway, according to figures from the Infectious Disease Reporting System (MSIS) at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (FHI). The 2024 figure thus looks set to be the highest since 2019. In addition, we are on track to pass the infection rate for the whole of 2023. At that time, there were 346 cases of salmonella infection that came from Norway or had an unknown source of infection. Salmonella Typhimurium is one of the most common salmonella types in Norway. Photo: SLU / VetBact Salmonella is a stomach and intestinal bacterium that causes an infection in the intestine. Humans are often infected from food. Hunting for one type of salmonella Typhimurum is one of 2,500 types of salmonella. Between April and June, FHI has seen an increase in infection cases of this type. Doctor Hilde Marie Lund in the department for contagion from food, water and animals at FHI. Photo: FHI – This variant is among the most common found in Norway. The reason we are investigating this right now is because we have seen several of the same type, says doctor Hilde Marie Lund. She works with infection and preparedness at FHI. As for the overall figures, Lund says that the increase is as expected. The pandemic and lower travel activity meant that salmonella numbers fell. Together with the Norwegian Food Safety Authority and the Veterinary Institute, FHI has tried to find out what is the cause of the outbreak. – Salmonella can be transmitted through everything from eggs, meat, vegetables, fruit and from animals, so there are many different sources of infection, says Åsne Sangolt, senior adviser in the biological food safety section of the Norwegian Food Safety Authority. Both eggs and chicken meat can contain salmonella. Photo: Jøte Toftaker / news – We have interviewed most of those who have fallen ill, and looked at what they have eaten. Now we are trying to find a common denominator, continues Sangolt. They do not yet know where the infection is coming from, but they hope to find the source of the infection. – We want to prevent more people becoming ill. If the source is food, we want to introduce measures so that the food you eat in Norway is safe, says Lund in FHI. Salmonella infection can come from eggs Aftenposten has also discussed the matter. A connection between egg imports and the salmonella outbreak is partially denied by the Norwegian Food Safety Authority. – So far we have nothing to indicate that imported eggs are a cause. We look at eggs in the same way as other foodstuffs, says Sangolt of the Norwegian Food Safety Authority. But it cannot be ruled out. – In Norway, we have good arrangements in place to counteract salmonella in our food. This is not necessarily the case in the rest of Europe, says veterinarian at the Norwegian Veterinary Institute and contact person for salmonella, Bjarne Bergsjø. Veterinarian and researcher Bjarne Bergsjø says that imported eggs can be a source of salmonella. But it is not certain that this is the reason for the increase now. Photo: Heidi Fjørtoft Klokk / news This also applies to eggs. – In principle, we are used to the fact that there is no salmonella in Norwegian eggs, and we can still count on that. The situation is different once we get a little south. Then, in many ways, you have to assume that it is, he says. Geir Pollestad: It is important that the food is safe Agriculture and Food Minister Geir Pollestad (Sp) tells news that the situation is serious. But he points out that there is little salmonella in Norway. – And we must work to ensure that we still have little of that, he says. He thinks it is important that the food produced, prepared and sold should be safe. Agriculture Minister Geir Pollestad thinks it is important to have safe food. Photo: Philip Kollstrøm / news – The source of infection is not the farmer, so I will not speculate on what it is. The search for the source becomes very important here. This outbreak shows that there is a good reason to have an agricultural policy that produces little salmonella, he says. Published 11.07.2024, at 16.16
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The salmonella infection is heading for the highest in five years – 33 infected of the same type – news Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio
