LONDON — Nearly 500 people in the UK have now been ill in a salmonella outbreak linked to imported eggs, after health officials identified two further clusters of infection. The UK Health Security Agency said the total has risen to 474 confirmed cases, up from 207 reported last week and then revised to 259 before the latest additions.
Two deaths have been recorded. Officials said some illnesses date back to August 2025, but the bacterial strains involved are almost genetically identical, which points to a shared food source. Early findings suggest many people were infected after eating out rather than by cooking eggs at home.
Officials identify three closely matched genetic clusters
The UK outbreak is being tracked through three near-identical genetic clusters named t5.9411, t0.24068 and t5.9765. Public health experts say the pattern suggests the infections are connected, even though the illnesses have been recorded over many months.
So far, there have been 259 confirmed cases and one death linked to t5.9411, 38 cases and one death linked to t5.9765, and 177 cases linked to t0.24068. Most cases have been reported in recent weeks and months, but investigators are looking back as far as August 2025 to build a clearer picture of how the outbreak spread.
The UKHSA said it will continue to follow up cases and look for any further common sources if they emerge. The Food Standards Agency is also working with the agency and other partners on the investigation.
Majority of cases are in England with London and Yorkshire heavily affected
Most UK cases have been recorded in England, with many in London and Yorkshire and the Humber. Smaller numbers have also been confirmed in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, showing the outbreak has affected all four nations.
More than a third of those taken ill in the UK have needed hospital treatment. The patients include babies and people as old as 92, underlining how widely the infection has spread across age groups.
Health officials stressed that most people recover without treatment, but older people, babies and those with weakened immune systems face the greatest risk of severe illness. Salmonella can cause stomach cramps, diarrhoea, vomiting and fever.
Imported eggs remain the main focus as food safety advice is repeated
Investigators say the outbreak has been linked to imported eggs, although the exact cause has not yet been identified. Prof Ian Young of the Food Standards Agency said there is no evidence that UK-produced eggs are affected.
He said people can safely buy and eat eggs carrying the British Lion mark or those produced under the Laid in Britain egg assurance scheme. Suppliers of British Lion mark eggs must follow a strict code that includes testing and vaccinating hens against salmonella.
Officials also said salmonella can be found in raw or undercooked poultry, meat and eggs, and advised people to cook food thoroughly and wash their hands after using the bathroom and before handling food. Anyone worried about symptoms should contact their GP or out-of-hours service first.
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