Open Data Are Urgently Needed for One Health-Based Investigations: The Example of the 2024 Salmonella Umbilo Multi-Country Outbreak

Alessandra Mazzeo, Celestina Mascolo (), Marco Esposito, Lucia Maiuro, Sebastiano Rosati () and Elena Sorrentino
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Alessandra Mazzeo: Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy
Celestina Mascolo: General Directorate for Health Protection and Coordination of the Regional Health System-Unit of Prevention and Veterinary Public Health, 80132 Naples, Italy
Marco Esposito: General Directorate for Health Protection and Coordination of the Regional Health System-Unit of Prevention and Veterinary Public Health, 80132 Naples, Italy
Lucia Maiuro: Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy
Sebastiano Rosati: Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy
Elena Sorrentino: Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 10, 1-12

Abstract: In 2024, a significant Salmonella Umbilo outbreak was reported across the European Union and beyond, traced to contaminated vegetables originating from the Province of Salerno (Italy). Subsequent on-site inspections in the production area revealed a mismanaged manure storage tank, which became the focus of a GIS-based investigation aimed at locating nearby animal establishments. Within a 1-km radius—encompassing both the tank and the contaminated greenhouses—three buffalo farms were identified. Farm inspections revealed buffalo calves exhibiting enteric symptoms. Fecal samples collected from these animals led to the isolation of S. Umbilo genomically linked to the 2024 multi-country outbreak, as well as other serotypes. To thoroughly investigate, data from official EU and Italian databases were analyzed, to detect the presence of S. Umbilo in vegetables, buffalo, and other livestock within the Province of Salerno. However, the lack of access to critical data needed to clarify the epidemiological links at the human–animal–environment interface has hindered the full reconstruction of the outbreak dynamics. These limitations underscore the urgent need to implement One Health strategies by promoting interdisciplinary collaboration among veterinarians, physicians, food technologists, biologists and other professionals; leveraging official open access databases; and adopting emerging technologies as interoperable data systems and drone surveillance.

Keywords: Salmonella Umbilo; multi-country outbreak; buffalo salmonellosis; RASFF alerts; rocket salad; human–animal–environment interface; open data; One Health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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