Salmonella Dublin is a cattle-adapted bacterium that has been present in herds for decades, not just in Denmark but globally, and its prevalence is on the rise worldwide. In animals, it can cause severe conditions such as pneumonia, blood poisoning, and abortions, leading to the deaths of thousands of calves and cows annually. This impacts milk production and overall herd health, creating significant economic burdens for agribusiness.

While human infections with Salmonella Dublin are less frequent than with more common Salmonella strains, they are considerably more dangerous, with a fatality rate of up to 12% among those infected. Compounding the threat, this variant is often resistant to antibiotics, making treatment challenging. Infection can occur through direct contact with infected animals, as well as through contaminated unpasteurized dairy products and undercooked meat.

Despite Denmark’s ambitious national eradication plan initiated in 2008, which aimed for complete elimination, the disease has not yet been fully eradicated. The infection rate in Danish cattle herds is currently estimated at around 5%, a significant reduction from 20-25% in 2008. However, in contrast, the infection has alarmingly increased in recent years in other major dairy sectors, reaching approximately 18% of herds in the United States and as much as 60% in the United Kingdom.