The National Public Health Center notified the Kaunas Department of the State Food and Veterinary Service about three illnesses caused by chicken wings sold at a café in Lithuania. these people became ill after eating chicken that was contaminated with Salmonella, Listeria, and Campylobacter.

VMVT Kaunas officials investigated the outlet and discovered various non-compliances, including cross-contamination, hygiene violations on the premises and by staff, and poor trash management. The establishment’s operations were halted. They collected samples of surfaces, drinking water, and chicken wings for microbiological study as part of an investigation into the cause of the virus. Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, and Campylobacter were discovered in the chicken during testing.

Source of illness:

According to an ongoing inquiry, frozen chicken wings originated in Poland. Salmonella has previously been highlighted as an issue in Polish poultry. The patient’s symptoms included nausea, diarrhea, and a high temperature, which are typical of an intestinal infection.

Poland was the source of 263 rapid alert systems for food and feed warnings in 2021 due to Salmonella in poultry meat, which was reported by the country in 154 cases. A series of incidents involving Salmonella in breaded chicken items from Poland in the United Kingdom in 2020 and 2021 affected over 1,000 people and a number of brands.

Mock event:

Only a few days after national organizations organized a practice session on responding to an outbreak, a genuine outbreak in Lithuania was declared. The fictitious Salmonella outbreak happened at a kindergarten. The exercise was attended by representatives from VMVT, NVSC, the National Food and Veterinary Risk Assessment Institute, and the National Public Health Surveillance Laboratory. More than 100 participants, learned about the roles of several institutions in identifying and managing a simulated Salmonella outbreak.

The goal was to share information, assess readiness to perform the responsibilities, and provide recommendations to improve investigations. Participants reviewed techniques for recognizing and confirming the outbreak, publicizing it, and exchanging information among agencies, especially at the state and European levels. They discussed employee health screening and the exclusion of unhealthy workers from the workplace, as well as the need of adopting whole genome sequencing. Participants also discussed their experiences, case studies, and lessons gained in order to strengthen cooperation among the many agencies.