- READ MORE: IVF scandal as UK children 'conceived with WRONG sperm or egg'
- See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source
A person has died and hundreds more have been left ill with food poisoning in a major salmonella outbreak linked to contaminated eggs, health officials say.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said the surge in cases was caused by a single strain of the bug - and that imported eggs may be to blame.
As of August 13, 207 cases have been detected, including one fatality. Nearly 200 of these occurred in England.
More than a third of people struck down by the bug were admitted to hospital, where two developed life-threatening blood infections, the UKHSA reports.
Those affected include babies and patients in their nineties.
Salmonella usually causes a fever, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea that clears up in a few days. But it can be fatal.
It is typically caught by eating contaminated food, such as poultry, meat, eggs, raw fruit and vegetables and unpasteurised dairy products.
According to the UKHSA, the current outbreak appears to be linked to a previous bout of cases in 2025, which was also linked back to contaminated eggs.
More than a third of people affected in the outbreak were admitted to hospital
Of the 207 cases confirmed so far, 114 have identified five different food businesses, with cross-contamination risks at two of these premises.
However, the UKHSA warned: 'At this time there is no identified link to UK-produced eggs or poultry.'
Health officials are now urging people to take precautionary measures against catching the bacteria, which it said are common causes of food poisoning.
Those in vulnerable groups may develop more severe illness such as bloodstream infections, infection of metastatic sites, sepsis and multiorgan failure, it added.
Hannah Charles, Lead Epidemiologist, Gastrointestinal infections at UKHSA, said: '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.
'Salmonellosis is often caused by eating or handling contaminated food and can be spread rarely from person-to-person.
'Symptoms - which can take up to 72 hours to develop - include diarrhoea, stomach cramps and sometimes vomiting and fever.
'Anyone who is concerned about symptoms should contact their GP or out of hours service in the first instance.
The UKHSA and the FSA said that last year there were 10,406 recorded cases of salmonella
'There are simple steps to prevent the spread of Salmonella – wash your hands thoroughly after using the bathroom and before preparing and handling food, cook food thoroughly, and if you have any symptoms, avoid handling food for others where possible.'
Of the 207 cases, 199 live in England, six are in Scotland, one is in Wales and one lives in Northern Ireland.
In England, London has seen the highest number of cases, with 47 cases confirmed, followed by Yorkshire and Humber where 38 people have fallen ill.
There is no reliable way to tell whether an egg is carrying Salmonella simply by looking at it, smelling it or checking its shell.
The safest option is to buy eggs from reputable retailers, keep them according to the instructions on the pack and check the best-before date.
UK-produced eggs carrying the British Lion stamp or the laid in Britain logo on the shell have additional Salmonella controls, including vaccination and testing, and eggs under them are considered very low risk.
If you are unsure of the eggs' origin, cook them thoroughly until both the white and yolk are firm.
Washing your hands after handling raw eggs and taking care not to let raw egg come into contact with ready-to-eat food can also help minimise the risk of infection.
Importantly, there is currently no advice to avoid all eggs. UKHSA says the current outbreak may be linked to eggs imported from outside the UK.