UK reports highest Salmonella cases in a decade

Health officials in the United Kingdom have issued a warning as cases of Salmonella infections have reached their highest level in a decade, with other gastrointestinal illnesses also remaining at elevated levels. New data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows confirmed Salmonella cases rose slightly from 10,389 in 2024 to 10,406 in 2025, marking the largest annual total in ten years.

Campylobacter, another common cause of food poisoning, also remained high with 69,394 cases reported in 2025, a marginal decrease from 70,392 the previous year. Cases of the more severe infection listeriosis were comparable to recent years, with 181 cases recorded in England and Wales in 2025, resulting in 28 deaths among non-pregnancy related cases. Of 40 pregnancy-associated cases, nearly a third with known outcomes resulted in miscarriage or stillbirth.

These infections are typically contracted by consuming contaminated food such as poultry, meat, eggs, raw fruits and vegetables, and unpasteurized dairy products. Health authorities note that infection can also spread through close contact with an infected person or through cross-contamination in kitchens, such as using the same...