Turkey production has been suggested as the probable source of the Salmonella Stanley outbreak that has resulted in 167 confirmed and 254 probable human infections in Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary and Poland, according to the European Food Safety Authority.
On June 29, the National Reference Centre for Salmonella in Belgium first reported through the Epidemic Intelligence Information System for the Food and Waterborne Diseases Platform a significant increase of human cases of Salmonella Stanley infection in 2012. The affected states have subsequently been reporting an overall increase in cases since August 2011, and the two most recent human infections occurred in September 2012, suggesting that the outbreak is ongoing.
Epidemiological and microbiological information gathered through public health, food and veterinary investigations strongly suggest that the turkey production chain is the source of the outbreak. However, the contribution of other food animal sources, such as beef, pork and broiler meat, cannot be ruled out.
As of September 20 the European Food Safety Authority reported that control measures had not been implemented to remove the source of infection and potential food vehicles from the market. It is likely that additional cases of Salmonella Stanley infections will occurr.
