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Local Public Health Units (LPHUs) and the Department of Health are working to investigate a large outbreak of Salmonella gastroenteritis affecting Victorians, for which the cause has not yet been identified. 

OMPHU is recommending that you test people with severe diarrhoea at a lower threshold than normal, and notify OM PHU if salmonella is found to help us find the cause. 

Information for frontline clinicians 

• There are now over a hundred cases of confirmed Salmonella Hvittingfoss infection in people across a wide age range (from under five years to over 85 years of age) and from many places across Victoria 

• Many cases have been very unwell with early signs being there is a high hospitalisation rate 

• Cases began developing symptoms from early April with a large number becoming unwell since 7 April 

• While the source is likely to be a food product(s), it is not yet clear what is causing the outbreak – LPUHs are continuing to investigate 

• Clinicians are urged to consider Salmonella infection as a possible cause of gastroenteritis at this time 

• Undertake stool sampling at a low threshold, requesting a stool MCS and stool multiplex PCR. Salmonella Hvittingfoss may initially be identified as Salmonella species on these tests 

• There is no current indication that Salmonella Hvittingfoss infection requires management that is different from other Salmonella infection. The principles of antimicrobial prescribing in ‘Therapeutic Guidelines: Antibiotic’ should be followed 

• Notification of cases and interviews by public health teams are crucial to identify any common food or other exposure 

• OMPHU is grateful for any notification of Salmonella infection in the normal way via the online routine notification Smartform (https://survey.forms.health.vic.gov.au/form-response/62bbb8f1-74df-49b8-8623-c97e8757eb30/1) 

• Consider the information below when discussing this situation with your patient 

Information for members of the community with gastroenteritis symptoms 

• People with ‘gastro’ symptoms are recommended to seek medical care if unwell and to provide a sample if requested for testing 

• If a person is unwell with gastro, stay away from work, school, childcare and avoid preparing food for others until well for 48 hours 

• If Salmonella infection is confirmed, you may be contacted by the OM PHU in order to conduct an interview about possible causes of your illness, including the foods you have eaten in the week prior to becoming unwell