Several cases of foodborne illness linked to a strain of S. Enteritidis have been reported to Santé publique France. In collaboration with the National Reference Center for Salmonella at the Pasteur Institute, Santé publique France and the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Regional Health Agency (ARS) are currently investigating cases of salmonellosis caused by Salmonella Enteritidis.

Update as of December 4, 2018

Initial investigations conducted among 14 people residing in Haute-Savoie established as early as Saturday, November 24, 2018, that they had all consumed Reblochon cheese from the same cheese shop. This Reblochon was subject to a recall on November 24, 2018 (http://agriculture.gouv.fr/risque-de-contamination-par-une-salmonelle-par-precaution-rappel-de-reblochons-de-la-societe).

As of December 4, 2018, the CNR had identified 71 strains of S. Enteritidis sharing the same whole-genome sequencing results. These strains correspond to ill individuals residing primarily in the Rhône-Alpes region (n=53), with the remaining 18 spread across 10 regions. These include 47 men and 24 women, with a median age of 40; only 2 children under the age of 5 are affected.

In addition, 12 additional S. Enteritidis strains isolated from individuals residing in the Rhône-Alpes region and recently received by the CNR are currently being sequenced to determine whether they share the same characteristics and belong to the same cluster.

Of the 83 ill individuals identified to date, 65 were interviewed by the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Regional Health Agency (ARS) and Santé publique France regarding their symptoms and food consumption prior to the onset of symptoms. Symptoms occurred between September 16 and November 19, peaking in week 40 (October 1–7, 2018). Fifteen people were hospitalized for salmonellosis: they have since been discharged and are doing well; no deaths have been reported. Consumption of raw-milk Reblochon cheese prior to symptom onset was reported by 80% of cases confirmed by the CNR and surveyed.

Distribution of S. Enteritidis salmonellosis cases by date of symptom onset and region of residence, September–November 2018

*A case confirmed by the CNR is a sick person from whom a strain of S. Enteritidis has been isolated, belonging to the cluster of strains with the same WGS characteristics.

Traceability investigations into the Reblochons consumed are being conducted by the Directorate General for Food and the relevant Departmental Directorates for Public Health.

New cases reported by the CNR will be systematically interviewed to consolidate this information.