One person has died and 207 others have fallen ill in an ongoing salmonella outbreak across the United Kingdom that health officials believe is linked to eggs brought in from overseas. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) says the cases were recorded between 11 August 2025 and 1 August 2026, with the vast majority — 206 of the 207 — reported during 2026.
More than a third of those infected have required hospital treatment, including infants and people as old as 90, and two patients developed serious blood poisoning as a complication. Most people recover without medical intervention, but officials say the outbreak is notable because it involves a single, genetically identical strain of the bacteria rather than the usual mix of unrelated cases seen throughout the year.
What are the symptoms and who is affected?
Those infected typically experience stomach cramps, diarrhoea, vomiting or fever, with symptoms usually appearing between 12 and 72 hours after exposure. The UKHSA advises anyone concerned about symptoms to contact their GP or an out-of-hours service in the first instance.
England accounts for 199 of the 207 confirmed cases, with London recording 47 and Yorkshire and Humber recording 38. Whole-genome sequencing has confirmed that all cases sit within the same five-single-nucleotide-polymorphism single-linkage cluster, meaning the infections are genetically indistinguishable and almost certainly trace back to a common source, according to the UK Health Security Agency. The strain has been identified as Salmonella Enteritidis.
Is this linked to travel or a previous outbreak?
According to the UK Health Security Agency, investigators have ruled out international travel as a significant factor, since only six of the 207 people affected reported travelling outside the UK before falling ill. The agency also says genomic evidence links the current cluster to a separate outbreak recorded in 2025 that was similarly traced to imported eggs, suggesting a recurring contamination issue in part of the supply chain rather than an isolated incident.
What has the investigation found so far?
Hannah Charles, lead epidemiologist for gastrointestinal infections at the UKHSA, said the agency is working alongside other bodies to trace the source.
"We're working with Food Standards Agency and other public health agencies to investigate a salmonella outbreak that may be linked to eggs imported from outside of the UK."
Salmonella can be carried in raw or undercooked poultry, meat and eggs, and thorough cooking along with careful hand hygiene when handling food or using the bathroom can reduce the risk of infection. Thousands of salmonella cases occur in the UK every year across many different strains, but an outbreak driven by one specific strain affecting a large number of people simultaneously is considered unusual.
Food chain investigations have found that the premises linked to cases were supplied with eggs from multiple sources, including importers, according to the UKHSA's health protection report. Local investigators have also identified possible cross-contamination risks at two of the settings connected to the outbreak. Twenty-four of the confirmed cases have been traced to food businesses known to use imported eggs, and the UKHSA has stated its current position plainly.
"At this time there is no identified link to UK-produced eggs or poultry."
Has this happened before?
Imported eggs have been linked to UK food safety incidents in recent years, and government reporting notes that egg imports have been rising, alongside several past episodes tied to imported products, according to a Food Standards Agency update. In an earlier case, investigators traced an indistinguishable Salmonella Enteritidis PT 14b strain to a small number of eggs originating from a specific shed in Spain, demonstrating how detailed supply-chain tracing can pinpoint a single source of contamination, as reported by a farming industry publication.
What happens next?
The UKHSA says its epidemiological and food chain investigations remain ongoing as of 18 August 2026, with officials continuing to treat egg consumption as the strongest lead identified so far. Further preventative measures will be introduced if investigators confirm a specific source, though the agency maintains that the risk to the wider public remains low at this stage.
Key Facts
- 207 confirmed cases recorded between 11 August 2025 and 1 August 2026, with 206 reported in 2026 alone.
- 199 of the cases are in England, including 47 in London and 38 in Yorkshire and Humber.
- More than a third of patients needed hospital care; two developed serious blood poisoning.
- Only 6 of the 207 cases involved recent international travel, ruling out travel as a major factor.
- Genomic testing links the outbreak to a similar 2025 outbreak also tied to imported eggs.
