A salmonella outbreak that started in mid-March has now infected 40 Danes across the country, and the number of cases is expected to rise, according to the National Serum Institute (SSI). The affected individuals range in age from infants to seniors aged 83. The outbreak is described as “fast-growing” by the SSI, with a real concern that more Danes will become infected in the near future. Luise Müller, an epidemiologist at the SSI, emphasized the seriousness of the situation in a comment to TV 2. So far, about a third of those infected have required hospitalization, but specific details about the hospitalizations have not been disclosed due to GDPR regulations.
The distribution of cases shows that 16 individuals are from the Capital Region, while the remaining cases are spread across the Central, Northern, Zealand, and South Denmark regions. Authorities, including the SSI, the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration (Fødevarestyrelsen), and the National Food Institute (DTU Fødevareinstituttet), are actively investigating the outbreak. Preliminary investigations suggest that the source of infection could be minced meat sold in various supermarkets. This was confirmed in a press release from the SSI issued on Monday. It is important for consumers to be aware of this potential risk and to follow any recommendations provided by the authorities as more information becomes available.