Salmonellosis, which causes gastrointestinal symptoms that can lead to more severe complications, poses a public health risk.

For Santé publique France, the challenge is to monitor human Salmonella infections in order to alert authorities in the event of a threat to the public or an outbreak. This surveillance also helps detect changes in epidemiological trends and emerging outbreaks, with the aim of adapting the food surveillance and control plans of the Directorate General for Food (DGAL) and the Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs, and Fraud Control (DGCCRF).

Finally, Santé publique France regularly investigates Salmonella-related foodborne illness outbreaks (TIAC) and clusters of salmonellosis cases to identify a common source of contamination. The ultimate goal is to reduce the number of cases through control measures (specifically the withdrawal and recall of affected foods) that will be implemented by Santé publique France’s partners (DGS, DGAL, DGCCRF).

Epidemiological surveillance of Salmonella infections through two complementary systems

The epidemiological surveillance of human salmonellosis conducted by Santé publique France is based on data from:

• The National Reference Center (CNR) for Salmonella at the Pasteur Institute, which analyzes the genomes of strains (approximately 10,000 per year) sent by clinical laboratories and hospital laboratories through genome sequencing. These data make it possible to track changes in the number of Salmonella strains isolated from humans, and detect outbreaks. At the same time, Salmonella’s antibiotic resistance is also being studied.

• On the Mandatory Reporting of Outbreaks of Foodborne Illness (TIAC)

TIACs are defined as the occurrence of at least two similar cases of generally gastrointestinal symptoms, the cause of which can be traced to a single food source. They are subject to mandatory reporting. Approximately one-third of reported TIACs for which microbiological confirmation was possible involved Salmonella.

Furthermore, Santé publique France participates in the European surveillance network for human gastrointestinal infections, including salmonellosis: the European Food- and Waterborne Disease and Zoonoses Surveillance Network (FWD-net).

Created in 2007, this network enables, through the sharing of national data, the surveillance of human gastrointestinal infections—including salmonellosis—at the European level, as well as collaboration during investigations into outbreaks affecting multiple countries.

Preventive measures against salmonellosis

Santé publique France reiterates the preventive measures to be adopted based on hygiene rules in institutional food service, home food preparation, and when in contact with animals, particularly new pets such as reptiles.

Learn more about hygiene measures