Approximately two hundred documented cases of Salmonella Mbandaka have been diagnosed over the past year in the E.U and the U.K. Of those affected, nineteen were hospitalized, five developed septicemia and there was one fatality.
To date, ninety cases have occurred in Finland and eighty in the U.K. with additional reports from the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands and Israel.
Whole genome sequencing assays suggests there are several sources through different distribution chains, but it is presumed that there is a common origin involving chicken meat. Most of the patients reported eating ready-to-eat chicken products including sandwiches and wraps before onset of symptoms.
Investigations are continuing with environmental samples from processing plants in an attempt to trace the origin of chicken used to manufacture consumer products.