Austria continues to battle Salmonella outbreak with 72 now confirmed sick

The number of people sick in a Salmonella outbreak in Austria has more than doubled.

The Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES) said 72 people are now ill, up from the previous total of 35.

Patients were detected between December 2024 and July 2025 and live in eight federal states. 32 people had to be treated in hospitals.

Since May 2025, AGES has been investigating the foodborne outbreak caused by Salmonella Enteritidis.

Research into the cause is proving difficult and the source has not yet been precisely identified. Based on positive test results from food and veterinary samples at poultry farms, the current hypothesis is that the source of infection is eggs and egg products.

Samples have been and are being taken from producers and food retailers. AGES is asking patients about their consumption habits before getting sick to identify the sources of infection. Potentially contaminated eggs have been withdrawn from circulation.

AGES said that despite several measures, it cannot be ruled out that contaminated eggs are still in circulation. The agency advised people to only use eggs that have been sufficiently cooked.

Based on earlier information with 35 sick, 17 were women and 18 were men, with a median age of 24 and a range of 1 to 83 years old.

AGES said it is especially important during warmer months to pay attention to kitchen hygiene during the preparation of food to prevent infections.

In 2024, an increase in the number of human isolates sent to the National Reference Centre for Salmonellosis was recorded. A total of 1,400 samples from 1,397 patients were submitted. Salmonella Enteritidis was the most common serotype.

Austria was involved in an international outbreak caused by Salmonella Umbilo in summer and autumn with 20 cases. Rocket and baby spinach from Italy were identified as the source of infection.

The frequent occurrence of a type of Salmonella Strathcona, which has been observed internationally since 2011, especially in the autumn months, continued in 2024 with 24 microbiologically confirmed Austrian cases. Italian organic cherry tomatoes are suspected to be the cause of illnesses.

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