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The source of infection for the national outbreak with the gastrointestinal bacterium Yersinia enterocolitica is likely a pre-cut salad product, research from the National Institute of Public Health shows.
The outbreak, which started in November, is considered over. All those affected fell ill between mid to late November.
Sliced lettuce stands out
FHI’s analysis of patient interviews shows that all those infected say they ate a salad product already cut the week before due to illness.
– In collaboration with the Norwegian Food Safety Authority, we have conducted interviews to map what people had eaten before getting sick and found that the already-cut salad stands out, says Umaer Naseer at FHI in a press release.
As of December 21, there were a total of 10 confirmed cases.
The infected people live in Oslo (2), Viken (3), Innlandet (2), Vestland (2) and Telemark and Vestfold (1). They are all women between the ages of 11 and 59.
These seven municipalities are vaccinated first
Given the shoots before
Cut lettuce has a short shelf life, so the contaminated product will no longer be on the market.
Salad products have also caused outbreaks of gastrointestinal diseases in Norway on previous occasions. In June of this year, a pre-washed salad product containing baby spinach or spinach was the starting point for an outbreak.
Common symptoms of the bacteria are diarrhea, headache, abdominal pain, nausea, and possibly fever. All symptoms go away on their own.
In rare cases, diarrhea can be long-lasting and severe, writes FHI.
