The Foods Standards Agency (FSA) investigation of a salmonella outbreak that killed two residents of a care home reveals the eggs to have been imported from Spain.

According to health chiefs looking into the outbreak that took place at the Piers View Care Home on Millum Terrace, Roker, resulted in the deaths of Myra Robinson, 72, and Sam Kiu Chan Shek,
86 at Sunderland Royal Hospital after the outbreak.

An inquest into the deaths of both women has been opened for establishing a specific cause of death.

At the time of the deaths, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) called it a ‘particularly serious outbreak’, though they agree a month later that the infection had stopped spreading and posed no ongoing risk to residents or staff.

The announcement of the fresh comes just as FSA and HPA are under-taking a nationwide investigation into an increasing number of cases of a certain type of salmonella, with the HPA noting an increase Salmonella Enteritidis phage type (PT) 14b cases since mid-August, while HPA reported a total of 443 S Enteritidis (PT) 14b cases this year, compared with 137 in 2008.

Fourteen case clusters in England and Wales are under investigation for determining a common source of infection i. e. eggs imported from Spain.

Salmonella bacteria living in the gut of many farm animals affects meat, eggs, poultry, and milk. Contact with manure in the soil or sewage in the water, or if raw and cooked foods are stored together can contaminate other foods.