Salmonella Agona France, Spain, Greece · 2017

Salmonella Agona outbreak linked to infant formula, France, Spain and Greece, 2017

ECDC and EFSA reported 39 infants under one year old with Salmonella Agona infection as of 11 January 2018, 37 in France and one each in Spain and Greece, linked to formula from a single French processing company. Santé publique France reported that 18 of 37 interviewed infants were hospitalised and that all were discharged. Products made since 15 February 2017 were recalled or withdrawn and had been distributed to 13 EU countries and 54 other countries, according to ECDC and EFSA.^1,2

Counts as reported on 11 January 2018.^1,2 Food vehicle: Infant formula from a single French processing company, including Picot and Milumel brands.

Timeline

1. November 2017France's National Reference Centre received an unusual number of Salmonella Agona strains from young children.²
2. 1 December 2017Epidemiological investigation began.²
3. 2 December 2017Product recalls and withdrawals started.²
4. 6 December 2017International alert issued through ECDC's EPIS system.²
5. 17 January 2018ECDC and EFSA published a joint rapid outbreak assessment.¹

Sources

1. European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and European Food Safety Authority, Joint Rapid Outbreak Assessment: Multi-country outbreak of Salmonella Agona infections linked to infant formula (17 January 2018)
2. Santé publique France, Salmonellosis outbreak caused by Salmonella enterica serotype Agona among infants (update 1 February 2018) (1 February 2018)