Outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis PT 14b in the United Kingdom – second update

The cumulative total of cases of gastroenteritis infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Enteritidis PT 14b (not known to be linked with foreign travel) reported to the Public Health Laboratory Service Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre in England (PHLS CDSC) by the Laboratory of Enteric Pathogens (LEP) since 26 September is now 224 (1). All the outbreak related strains examined so far have similar plasmid profile and pulsed field gel electrophoresis patterns. The dates of onset for confirmed cases reported since 26 September, where available, range from 3 September to 13 October 2002 (figure) and the epidemic curve is consistent with continuing exposure to a source of infection. There have been two deaths.