The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is urging poultry producers in Great Britain to keep biosecurity and testing standards high, despite regulated Salmonella serotypes remaining at very low levels in British flocks.
Low prevalence in British flocks but rising human cases
APHA’s 2025 surveillance report confirms that Salmonella prevalence in commercial poultry remains low. Regulated serotypes – S. Enteritidis, S. Typhimurium and monophasic S. Typhimurium – were found in 0.43% of laying flocks and in less than 0.01% of broiler flocks. Both figures remain within National Control Programme targets.
The picture is different on the human side. Salmonellosis cases in England reached a ten-year high in 2025, with UKHSA recording 10,406 laboratory reports, including 3,104 cases of S. Enteritidis. APHA says the increase is likely to reflect several factors rather than a single source.
On 26 May 2026, UKHSA identified an increase in infections caused by a single S. Enteritidis strain, t5.9411. Two other genetically distinct clusters were identified later.
In its week 39 update, UKHSA cited ECDC data showing 341 confirmed t5.9411 cases across several European countries between May 2025 and August 2026, 61% of them in the UK. By 29 September, UKHSA had recorded 413 t5.9411 cases in England alone.
Available genetic, epidemiological and exposure data suggest that the three clusters may be linked to imported eggs. APHA says there is currently no evidence that the overall rise in human salmonellosis is linked to poultry or eggs produced in the UK.
Why vigilance remains essential
In a blog post published on 22 September 2026, APHA scientists noted that the rise in human cases has not been mirrored in surveillance findings from British poultry.
For producers, the main recommendations remain unchanged:
- Follow the required flock sampling schedules and submit samples to approved laboratories.
- Keep strict controls on visitors, vehicles, equipment and feed.
- Ensure that suspected Salmonella isolates are reported promptly to APHA and submitted for confirmatory identification by the responsible vet or private laboratory, as required by law.
The low prevalence of regulated serotypes does not remove the need for wider surveillance. In 2025, 2,407 Salmonella isolations were detected in chickens in Great Britain, with most involving non-regulated serovars.
Implications for the poultry sector
For poultry producers, the priority remains routine testing and consistent biosecurity.
The investigation into S. Enteritidis clusters potentially associated with imported eggs also puts attention on traceability and supplier controls further along the supply chain.
See also:
Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak in the UK: 207 cases and one death
