Health leaders have raised an alarm about an outbreak of potentially deadly Salmonella.
Five people were admitted to the hospital and at least 20 diseases, including 13 young children, with a rare type of the diarrhoea-causing bug.
The cases were not limited to a specific part of the UK, reported instead throughout the country, according to the British watchdogs for healthcare and safety.
Yet civil servants are still fighting to determine the source of the outbreak.
Earlier, the tribe, known as Salmonella Saintpaul, was linked to an outbreak in 2023 with imported melons that met more than 90 people.
But to date there is no evidence that Meloen is the source of the current outbreak, said civil servants.
Salmonella is a group of bacteria that infect the intestine of farm animals – and usually affects meat, eggs and poultry.
The annoying bug usually also causes illness and fever that cleans up in days. However, it can be fatal.
Health leaders have started a national investigation into a mystery salmonella that has hit the Salmonella outbreak that has hit 20 people and has taken five in the hospital
In 2024, health experts warned of an increase in large outbreaks of Salmonella linked to melon consumption.
On average, it takes 12 to 72 hours before the symptoms develop after swallowing an infectious dose of salmonella.
If people get seriously ill, they may need hospital care because the dehydration caused by the disease can be life threatening.
Of the 25 cases, all diseases between 20 February and 4 March, six were registered in northwestern England, four in the West Midlands, three in the southwest and two in eastern England.
The East Midlands, the Northeast, London and the Southeast each registered a business.
Two cases were also each confirmed in Noord -Ireland and Wales, as well as one in Scotland.
Patients who were brought down with the disease were on average 5 years old, but varied from 1 to 88. Sixteen were female and nine are male.
Gauri Godbole, deputy director of gastrointestinal infections at the UK Health Security Agency (UKSA), said: ‘UKHSA is investigating a small outbreak of Salmonella and no cases have been identified since March 2025.
‘Gastrointestinal bacteria, such as Salmonella, can be spread from person to person and food, so everyone with diarrhea or vomiting must thoroughly wash their hands after using the bathroom and dealing with food or preparing food for others where possible.
“Don’t avoid going to work or send unwell children to school or kindergarten until at least 48 hours after the symptoms have disappeared.”
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