New government figures reveal a significant decrease in Salmonella found in chickens across Great Britain during 2024. The Animal and Plant Health Agency reported 1,961 confirmed cases, representing a drop of more than 25 percent compared to the previous year, when infections had reached their highest level in over a decade.
The decline follows a period of heightened biosecurity on farms, introduced after years of disruption from widespread Avian Influenza outbreaks. Most Salmonella detections came from mandatory surveillance programs, while voluntary testing contributed little to the overall findings.
Testing identified 34 different strains of Salmonella, though just four were responsible for most of the cases. Salmonella Idikan remained the most prevalent, accounting for more than a third of all recorded infections. Other leading strains, including S. Kedougou, S. Montevideo, and S. Mbandaka, showed marked reductions compared with the previous year, with S. Montevideo nearly cut in half.
A few uncommon strains displayed slight increases, such as S. Kentucky, S. Newport, and S. Muenchen, while S. Enteritidis rose modestly to 12 cases. The report also confirmed the first appearance of S. Chester in the country’s chicken population.
All positive flocks continue to be monitored under the UK’s National Control Programmes to safeguard food safety and protect public health.
