The Statens Serum Institut (SSI) has in collaboration with the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration and the DTU Food Institute report that a Shigella outbreak in August and September that sickened some 44 people is linked to fresh mint bought at a local greengrocer or bazaar in and around the Copenhagen area.
Of the 44 cases from August 22 to September 9, 30 of the cases was reported in women and 14 in men. A total of 13 people have been hospitalized. The sick live primarily in the Capital Region.
Because fresh mint has a short shelf life, it is no longer on the market. There is therefore no risk of more consumers becoming infected, says Emergency Manager Nikolas Kühn Hove from the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration.