Thirteen cases of salmonella in Vitoria related to the alert of an Aragonese egg macrofarm

The Department of Health of the Basque Government reported more than a month ago 13 cases of salmonellosis due to the consumption of egg foods in a bar in Vitoria-Gasteiz, where three people had to be hospitalized after consuming tortillas in the bar.

The outbreak coincides with the international health alert activated on 8 October following the detection of Salmonella Enteritidis in fresh eggs from an Aragonese macrobreeder , which remains active in Spain, Portugal and Franceafter it was confirmed that part of the suspicious batches were exported to the two neighbouring countries.

In recent weeks, eggs ofSpanish origin have been removed from supermarkets as a preventive measure against the risk of contamination. Health authorities keep the alert active while investigating the extent of the outbreak and the distribution of affected products.

The Department of Health confirmed inAugust the outbreak of salmonellosis one in Eibar. On the 9th of that month some omelettes may have been consumed in a hotel establishment. The incident affected 29 people, 21 of them with confirmed infection through microbiological tests. Twenty-five required health care and nine were hospitalized, but all were discharged.

The investigation revealed the presence of eggs from an Aragonese farm, which had been ordered by Public Health to freeze and withdraw the eggs distributed, both in the affected establishment and in other hotel premises, as well as to detect deficiencies in the traceability of products, in the cleaning of utensils and in the preservation of tortillas at room temperature.