Investigations are underway in five European countries following the detection of (mostly non-travel related) Salmonella Mikawasima infections since the end of summer, according to the ECDC. The UK accounted for the majority of cases (138), followed by Sweden (31), France (18), Denmark (2) and Ireland (1) – a rise in reports has also been seen in Portugal. Genomic testing ‘indicates association with a common source. The lack of travel history for the cases and the recent identification possibly points to a vehicle of infection simultaneously distributed in different EU countries’. Sweden has also experienced a rise in the incidence of cryptosporidiosis.
Advice for travellers
Salmonella is a bacterium typically found in food, such as poultry, that causes diarrhoea, fever, and abdominal cramps between 12 and 72 hours after infection. Illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most people recover without treatment, although diarrhoea may be so severe as to require hospital treatment. Young children and the elderly are at highest risk of severe illness. Read more
Before you travel, call Travelvax Australia’s telephone advisory service on 1300 360 164 (toll-free from landlines) for country-specific advice and information. You can also make an appointment at your nearest Travelvax clinic to obtain vaccinations, medication to prevent or treat illness, and accessories for your journey.