The surveillance system for Salmonella infections, which relies on mandatory reporting of foodborne illness outbreaks and data from the National Reference Center, makes it possible to track trends in this infection.

A stable number of salmonellosis cases identified by the NRC

Despite the numerous control measures implemented across various sectors, the annual number of strains reported to the NRC remains stable, at around 10,000 per year.

Salmonellosis outbreaks detected regularly

Deli meats and raw-milk cheeses are the foods most frequently linked to outbreaks. It is also worth noting the occurrence of salmonellosis outbreaks among infants linked to the consumption of contaminated powdered milk.

See also

• Cases of salmonellosis linked to the consumption of raw or undercooked horse meat (2020)

• Salmonella Dublin outbreak and raw milk cheeses

• Poona serotype salmonellosis outbreak among infants, 2018–2019

  • Cases of Poona serotype salmonellosis in infants: update as of February 18, 2019

  • Eurosurveillance published on March 28, 2019, presenting an overview of the outbreak

Changes in the bacterial strains involved

Serotypes Enteritidis and Typhimurium are the most common serotypes in France. Monophasic variants of Typhimurium have emerged since the early 2000s and are now among the top three serotypes in France.

Multidrug resistance to antibiotics among Salmonella strains has been increasing globally over the past decade.

All of these factors underscore the need for continued vigilance in order to adapt recommendations and control measures.

Morbidity and mortality remain high

In France, Salmonella, along with norovirus and Campylobacter infections, accounts for the majority of foodborne cases and hospitalizations. Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes infections, meanwhile, account for half of all foodborne deaths.

An Outbreak of Salmonellosis Caused by Salmonella Serotype Agona Among Infants

In 2017, 39 infants with a median age of 4 months were diagnosed with Salmonella Agona serotype salmonellosis. The identification by the CNR of 8 strains over an 8-day period in late November 2017 triggered an alert, and epidemiological investigations began on December 1, 2017, among the parents of the affected infants.

The epidemiological investigation conducted by Santé publique France in collaboration with the CNR, the Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs, and Fraud Control (DGCCRF), and the Directorate General for Health (DGS) focused on foods consumed during the 3 days prior to the onset of symptoms. All infants had consumed, prior to the onset of their symptoms, powdered milk manufactured at the same facility in France. This facility had previously been the source of a S. Agona salmonellosis outbreak among infants in 2004–2005. The same epidemic clone was identified in the strains isolated from the infants in 2017 and those isolated from the sick infants during the first outbreak in 2004–2005, indicating that this S. Agona strain has persisted for more than 12 years at this facility.