Salmonella Outbreak Hospitalizes Six in Pamplona Bar
Listen to the story
Six people have been admitted to hospital in Pamplona, Spain, after suffering from severe gastroenteritis. Doctors say the illness was caused by salmonella, a bacteria that can make people very sick.
The patients had eaten food at a bar in the Casco Viejo, the old part of Pamplona. Health officials believe an egg-based product served at the bar was the source of the outbreak.
An outbreak happens when a group of people become sick from the same cause at the same time. In this case, all six patients ate at the same bar before getting ill.
The affected people were taken to the HUN, the Hospital Universitario de Navarra, for treatment. Their exact condition has not been made public, but they were admitted for care.
Salmonella is a common cause of food poisoning. It often spreads through contaminated food, especially eggs and egg products that have not been cooked or stored correctly.
Symptoms of salmonella infection usually include stomach pain, diarrhoea, and fever. Most people recover within a few days, though severe cases can require hospital treatment.
Local health authorities are now investigating the bar to understand how the contamination happened. They will likely check food storage, preparation methods, and hygiene practices.
This case highlights the importance of food safety, especially when using eggs, which can carry harmful bacteria if not handled properly.
Vocabulary10 words
- gastroenteritis
- an illness that upsets the stomach
- salmonella
- a type of bacteria that causes food poisoning
- Casco Viejo
- the old, historic part of a city
- outbreak
- a sudden appearance of an illness in a group
- contaminated
- made unsafe by dirt or germs
- bacteria
- very small living things that can cause disease
- food poisoning
- sickness caused by eating bad food
- symptoms
- signs that show someone is sick
- hygiene
- keeping things clean to stop illness
- authorities
- people in charge who make official decisions
Quiz
Answer key
1. Salmonella bacteria in an egg product 2. At the HUN hospital 3. True
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Six people have been admitted to hospital in Pamplona after suffering from severe _____.
Doctors say the illness was caused by _____, a bacteria that can make people very sick.
The patients had eaten food at a bar in the _____, the old part of Pamplona.
Health officials believe an egg-based product served at the bar was the source of the _____.
All six patients ate at the same bar before getting _____.
The affected people were taken to the _____ for treatment.
Salmonella is a common cause of _____.
It often spreads through _____ food, especially eggs.
Symptoms usually include stomach pain, diarrhoea, and _____.
Local health _____ are now investigating the bar.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think egg-based products can carry salmonella?
- Have you ever heard of a similar food poisoning outbreak? What happened?
- What food safety habits do you follow at home to avoid illness?
- Do you think restaurants should be checked more often for hygiene? Why or why not?