Gastrointestinal infections and outbreaks in England: 2023 to 2025
Updated 11 June 2025
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2025
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The quarterly trend of laboratory reports for Campylobacter species (spp.) and non-typhoidal Salmonella serovars for the period Q1 2023 to Q1 2025 is shown in Table 1, presenting data that includes infections acquired overseas. Table 2 presents outbreaks reported to national surveillance in 2024 caused by the bacterial gastrointestinal infections (GI) Campylobacter spp., Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella serovars and Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), and protozoal Cryptosporidium spp.
The data is accurate as of 22 May 2025 and extracted from live surveillance systems. The data is reported as provisional and may be subject to change due to late notifications and de-duplication; therefore previously published totals may differ slightly.
Key points
There has been an increasing trend in the number of confirmed laboratory reports for both Campylobacter spp. and Salmonella serovars from 2023 to the first quarter of 2025. The total number of Campylobacter spp. laboratory reports increased from 60,055 reports in 2023 to 70,352 reports in 2024 (up 17.1%). Comparison of the number of Campylobacter spp. laboratory reports in the first quarter of each year indicated rises in the number of reports by 22.6% and 22.0%, from 10,588 reports in Q1 2023 to 12,985 in Q1 2024, then to 15,838 in Q1 2025.
Similarly, the total number of confirmed Salmonella serovar laboratory reports increased by 17.1%, from 8,872 reports in 2023 to 10,388 reports in 2024. Comparison of the number of confirmed Salmonella serovar laboratory reports in the first quarter of each year shows a rise of 16.0%, from 1,328 reports in Q1 2023 to 1,541 in Q1 2024, then a lower increase of 3.1%, to 1,588 in Q1 2025.
In 2024, there were 9 Campylobacter (unspeciated) outbreaks reported to UKHSA; the total number of people affected was 122, of which 28 were laboratory-confirmed cases. The larger outbreaks were associated with consumption of liver or products containing chicken or lamb liver such as a pate/parfait. Three outbreaks were reported in care home settings and the remaining 6 outbreaks were linked to eating outside of the home, in pubs or restaurants, or at events.
There were 32 outbreaks of Cryptosporidium reported to national surveillance in 2024 (3 C. hominis, 25 C. parvum and 4 unspeciated), comprising 1544 known cases of which 547 were laboratory confirmed. Twenty-four outbreaks (75.0%; 20 C. parvum, 4 unspeciated) were linked to commercial farms holding lambing events or to open or petting farms. Three outbreaks were associated with childcare and educational settings, 3 with swimming pool settings, 1 with the consumption of milkshake and 1 with the consumption of contaminated mains drinking water.
There were 7 Listeria monocytogenes outbreaks (comprising 2 or more linked cases) investigated in England in 2024, 2 of which also included cases in Wales. The total number of laboratory confirmed cases was 44. Investigations identified the source of 5 outbreaks and included smoked fish, garlic sausage and prepacked sandwiches – all considered to be high-risk foods for listeriosis in vulnerable groups. No food sources were identified for the other 2 outbreaks.
Seven outbreaks of Salmonella were reported to national surveillance in 2024, comprising 304 cases of which 280 cases were laboratory confirmed. These outbreaks were associated with the consumption of multiple different food vehicles including eggs, tomatoes and red meat products.
There were 5 national STEC outbreaks in 2024, comprising 362 cases in England of which 348 were laboratory confirmed. All the outbreaks were caused by STEC non-O157, 4 were investigated as routine incidents and 1 as an enhanced incident. Investigations identified the source of 3 outbreaks; these outbreaks were associated with the consumption of beef, fresh fruit, and salad leaves. The vehicle remained unknown for 2 outbreaks.
Table 1. Campylobacter species (spp.) and non-typhoidal Salmonella serovars quarterly confirmed laboratory reports (all specimen types) in England by laboratory report date, Q1 2023 to Q1 2025*
| Pathogen | Q1 2023 | Q2 2023 | Q3 2023 | Q4 2023 | Total 2023 | Q1 2024 | Q2 2024 | Q3 2024 | Q4 2024 | Total 2024 | Q1 2025* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Campylobacter spp. | 10,588 | 15,791 | 18,476 | 15,200 | 60,055 | 12,985 | 19,372 | 20,723 | 17,272 | 70,352 | 15,838 |
| Salmonella spp. | 1,328 | 2,126 | 3,105 | 2,313 | 8,872 | 1,541 | 2,387 | 3,747 | 2,713 | 10,388 | 1,588 |
Use the scroll bar to view the full range of data; * = Provisional data.
Table 2. Outbreaks reported in England in 2024 [Note 1]
| Agent | Total affected | Laboratory confirmed | Hospital admissions [Note 2] |
Deaths recorded [Note 2] |
Setting | Food description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Campylobacter species | 4 | 3 | u | u | Restaurant | Not identified |
| Campylobacter species | 21 | 6 | 1 | 0 | Care home | Lamb’s liver |
| Campylobacter species | 8 | 2 | u | u | Care home | Not identified |
| Campylobacter species | 2 | 2 | u | u | Care home | Not identified |
| Campylobacter species | 6 | 2 | u | u | Restaurant | Chicken liver pate |
| Campylobacter species | 2 | 2 | 2 | u | Pub | Liver |
| Campylobacter species | 3 | 3 | 0 | u | Hotel | Chicken |
| Campylobacter species | 15 | 1 | u | u | Restaurant | Duck and chicken liver parfait / beef / rarebit |
| Campylobacter species | 61 | 7 | 2 | u | Stadium | Chicken liver parfait |
| Cryptosporidium hominis | 7 | 4 | u | u | Nursery | Not applicable |
| Cryptosporidium parvum | 4 | 4 | 1 | u | Commercial farm with accommodation | Not applicable |
| Cryptosporidium parvum | 4 | 4 | 2 | u | Public open farm | Not applicable |
| Cryptosporidium parvum | 482 [Note 3] | 83 | 17 [Note 3] |
u | Commercial farm holding public lambing event | Not applicable |
| Cryptosporidium parvum | 781 [Note 3] | 154 | 41 | u | Commercial farm holding public lambing event | Not applicable |
| Cryptosporidium parvum | 12 | 12 | u | u | Public open farm | Not applicable |
| Cryptosporidium hominis | 9 | 9 | u | u | Swimming pool, holiday park | Not applicable |
| Cryptosporidium parvum [Note 4] | 2 | 2 | u | u | Public open farm | Not applicable |
| Cryptosporidium parvum [Note 4] | 20 | 20 | u | u | Public open farm | Not applicable |
| Cryptosporidium species | 8 | 8 | u | u | Public open farm | Not applicable |
| Cryptosporidium parvum | 17 | 17 | u | u | Public open farm | Not applicable |
| Cryptosporidium parvum | 4 | 4 | u | u | Commercial farm with accommodation holding public lambing event | Not applicable |
| Cryptosporidium parvum | 13 | 13 | u | u | Public open farm | Not applicable |
| Cryptosporidium parvum | 13 | 8 | u | u | Public open farm | Not applicable |
| Cryptosporidium parvum | 6 | 6 | u | u | Public open farm | Not applicable |
| Cryptosporidium species | 11 | 2 | u | u | Commercial farm holding public lambing event | Not applicable |
| Cryptosporidium parvum | 103 [Note 3] | 10 | u | u | Commercial farm holding public lambing event | Not applicable |
| Cryptosporidium parvum | 4 | 4 | 2 | u | Public open farm | Not applicable |
| Cryptosporidium species | 5 | 5 | u | u | Public open farm | Not applicable |
| Cryptosporidium parvum | 3 | 2 | u | u | Lambing event at land-based college | Not applicable |
| Cryptosporidium parvum | 5 | 2 | u | u | School | Not applicable |
| Cryptosporidium parvum | 4 | 4 | u | u | Public open farm and farm shop | Not applicable |
| Cryptosporidium parvum | u | 143 [Note 5] |
4 | u | Community | Mains drinking water |
| Cryptosporidium parvum | u | 2 | u | u | Community farm | Not applicable |
| Cryptosporidium species | 2 | 2 | u | u | Public open farm | Not applicable |
| Cryptosporidium parvum | 2 | 2 | u | u | Public open farm | Not applicable |
| Cryptosporidium parvum | 3 | 2 | u | u | Farm shop | Milkshake |
| Cryptosporidium parvum | 2 | 2 | u | u | Public open farm | Not applicable |
| Cryptosporidium hominis | 6 | 6 | u | u | Nursery | Not applicable |
| Cryptosporidium parvum | 5 | 5 | u | u | Water park | Not applicable |
| Cryptosporidium parvum | 3 | 3 | u | u | Public open farm | Not applicable |
| Cryptosporidium parvum | 4 | 3 | 2 | u | Swimming pool | Not applicable |
| Listeria monocytogenes | 19 | 19 | 19 | 2 | National | Smoked fish |
| Listeria monocytogenes | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | National | Chocolate/strawberry mousse |
| Listeria monocytogenes | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | National | Garlic sausage |
| Listeria monocytogenes | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | National | Prepacked sandwiches |
| Listeria monocytogenes | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | National | Prepacked sandwiches |
| Listeria monocytogenes | 9 | 9 | 9 | 4 | National | Not identified |
| Listeria monocytogenes | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | National | Not identified |
| Salmonella Typhimurium | 29 | 18 | 4 | u | Restaurant | Not identified |
| Salmonella Enteritidis | 17 | 4 | 4 | u | Restaurant | Eggs |
| Salmonella Enteritidis | 7 | 7 | 3 | u | Restaurant | Eggs |
| Salmonella Blockley | 81 | 81 | 14 | u | National | Tomatoes |
| Salmonella Strathcona | 24 | 24 | u | u | National | Tomatoes |
| Salmonella Anatum | 37 | 37 | 4 | u | National | Not identified |
| Salmonella Typhimurium | 109 | 109 | 6 | u | National | Red meat products |
| STEC O26 | 64 | 54 | 19 | 0 | National | Beef product |
| STEC O26 | 56 | 53 | 6 | 0 | National | Fresh fruit |
| STEC O26 | 13 | 13 | 7 | 0 | National | Not identified |
| STEC O103 | 33 | 32 | 10 | 0 | National | Not identified |
| STEC O145 | 196 | 196 | 83 | 2 | National | Salad leaves |
Use the scroll bar to view the outbreak data; u = unknown; STEC = Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli.
Note 1: Number of cases affected and number laboratory confirmed are for cases resident in England, with the exception of 2 listeria outbreaks which include Wales cases. For outbreaks that spanned more than one year, only the number of cases reported in 2024 is included in the table, with the exception of the STEC outbreaks for which all cases linked to an outbreak are included.
Note 2: Clinical outcome is not known for all cases and the data reported represents cases who were admitted to hospital or deaths reported to national surveillance.
Note 3: Number from self-reported surveys undertaken with event attendees.
Note 4: Confirmed cases co-infected with Cryptosporidium parvum and STEC.
Note 5: 126 confirmed outbreak cases based on typing; 143 includes those laboratory confirmed but where typing was not possible.
Data sources
Data for this report were extracted from the UKHSA live laboratory reporting databases and therefore the totals are subject to change: the Second Generation Surveillance System (SGSS) for the Campylobacter spp. and non-typhoidal Salmonella serovar data; the Gastrointestinal Infections, Food Safety and One Health (GIFSOH) Division’s Electronic Foodborne and non-foodborne Outbreak Surveillance System (eFOSS) for the outbreak data.
Data caveats
As data were extracted from SGSS, a live laboratory reporting system, the data are subject to change and historical totals may differ slightly.