Health authorities in Central Greece appear to be closing in on the source of a salmonella outbreak in Lamia, after identifying the supplier of chicken linked to the cases. Andreas Toulias, Deputy Regional Governor for Health of Sterea Ellada, confirmed the development in an interview with STAR Central Greece.
Tracing the Supply Chain
Toulias emphasized that while the immediate supplier has been located, investigators are also working to identify the intermediary distributor and the original poultry farm. ‘We dispatched an inspector accompanied by a veterinarian to inspect all food service establishments that received the suspect chicken,’ he explained. ‘We’ve examined all staff and focused our efforts on the supplier. We found them, collected raw chicken samples, and sent them to a laboratory in Chalcis. Our aim is to follow the full chain — from final supplier to intermediary and ultimately to the breeding unit.’
Containment Efforts Underway
‘I believe no further cases will emerge,’ Toulias added. ‘Chicken is a particularly risky food during summer months. We’ve traced its origin and are taking steps to prevent re-supply — I’m confident we’ve identified the source.’
Expert Guidance from EODY
Earlier, Theodoros Vasilakopoulos, President of the Scientific Council of Greece’s National Public Health Organization (EODY), stressed the importance of rigorous traceback procedures. ‘Authorities have initiated full epidemiological tracing — this requires going several steps back in the supply chain, following established protocols,’ he said. He noted that properly cooked poultry does not pose a risk, and advised the public to avoid consuming chicken for two to three days as a precautionary measure.
Case Update
According to lamiareport.gr, by Monday afternoon, 30 patients had visited the emergency department of Lamia General Hospital exhibiting severe gastroenteritis symptoms — including fever, vomiting, and diarrhea. Twelve were admitted for hospitalization. Notably, the patients do not know each other and did not eat at the same establishment. In addition to those treated at the hospital, several other individuals sought medical advice from private physicians and remained at home.