During the second half of 2016, Germany has experienced an increase in the number of Salmonella Stourbridge cases. The source of the infections has yet to be identified.

Finding the source of the Salmonella Stourbridge infections is a priority since there has been a higher than usual number of hospitalizations, in addition to two reported deaths.

At least seven other European Union Member States have also reported cases of Salmonella Stourbridge. However, the number of cases reported throughout these areas is within the expected range. Health officials are considering the possibility that these cases could be linked to the illnesses reported in Germany. Member states have been encouraged to share data from their research by way of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and whole genome sequencing.

See the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control’s Rapid Risk Assessment: Increase in Salmonella Stourbridge Infections in Germany During 2016.