An outbreak of a rare type of Salmonella has been declared over in Sweden. During the outbreak of Salmonella Coeln, more than 50 people fell sick. The outbreak is thought to have been caused by fresh sprouts.
From the end of August to October, 52 people from 14 regions were found with the same type of Salmonella Coeln thanks to whole genome sequencing. This means it is likely they were infected by a common source.
Sprouts suspected but not confirmed as source
Local infection control units and municipalities helped in the investigation with the Swedish Food Agency (Livsmedelsverket) and Public Health Agency of Sweden (Folkhälsomyndigheten). A previous update, when the source had not been found, was given when 31 people were ill. The number of people affected by Salmonella Coeln in Sweden in 2020 and 2019 was in single figures.
It is believed that a suspected contaminated batch was delivered to grocery stores, wholesalers and commercial kitchens at the end of August. Sampling and analysis of remaining sprouts from ill people and from production did not find Salmonella, so suspicions that they were the source of infection could not be confirmed by microbiological analyses.
