The salmonella outbreak at Masaryk Primary School in Újezd nad Lesy was a mass illness that in September 2026 affected diners at the school canteen of one of Prague's primary schools. According to the Prague Public Health Authority (HSHMP), 363 diners fell ill after eating lunches from the canteen, 50 people were hospitalized, and salmonella was confirmed in 22 cases by laboratory testing; health officials described the situation as an epidemic [5]. On 21 September, the canteen had cooked with eggs past their best-before date [6]. The case led to the closure of the school and its kitchen, the hospitalization of dozens of patients, intervention by health officials, and an investigation by the police [1][4][5].
Course of the Illness
At the beginning of the week, parents of pupils at Masaryk Primary School began reporting that their children felt unwell, with symptoms including cramps, diarrhea and vomiting [2]. The school has about 1,100 pupils. By Tuesday, health officials had recorded 250 infections, with at least 240 children and ten adults suffering from digestive problems [1]. Martina Marešová, head of the HSHMP's anti-epidemic department, described the situation as an epidemic, noting that in her long career in epidemiology she had never encountered such a high number of cases [3]. In thirteen children, most of whom were hospitalized with severe symptoms, bacteriological stool tests confirmed salmonella infection; according to Marešová, it is likely that the other affected individuals also have salmonella, since their symptoms are very similar [1][3]. By 25 September, the number of sick people had risen to 363, according to health officials, with 22 laboratory-confirmed cases [5].
Response by Emergency Services and Hospitals
According to Karel Kirs, spokesman for the Prague Emergency Medical Service, a total of 55 people from Újezd nad Lesy called the 155 emergency line due to digestive problems; of these, 20 patients were taken to hospital, 24 were treated on site and released, and the rest received advice over the phone [2]. The Prague 21 municipal district noted that Bulovka Hospital had stopped admitting new patients due to the outbreak and that Královské Vinohrady University Hospital was nearly at capacity, while Motol University Hospital and Thomayer Hospital continued to admit new patients [3].
Findings of Health Officials
Health officials investigated the eggs used in preparing the lunch at the school canteen as a possible source of the infection. They were unable to collect egg samples because the cooks had used them all, so the specific batch had to be traced directly through the supplier [2]. Health officials found that on 21 September 2026 the canteen had cooked with eggs past their best-before date, which had expired on 15 September [6]. According to the Public Health Authority, all those who fell ill had eaten the lunch prepared that day in the school kitchen, from which food was also delivered to other facilities [5]. Cases were recorded in the school's main building, in an adjacent building, in two kindergartens, and among seniors who receive meal deliveries from a home care service [5][6].
Measures Taken by the School and Health Officials
The upper grades and Montessori classes, where the most cases occurred, were given a headmaster's day off on Wednesday due to the outbreak, which was subsequently extended to Thursday and Friday for all classes [1]. School principal Libor Skala stated that the school was in contact with the health authority, which would thoroughly investigate the matter, and that the school was following its instructions [2]. The entire school, including the kitchen and canteen, was disinfected by a specialized company, a step praised as responsible by HSHMP director Vladimír Možíšek [1][2].
The kitchen was closed; health officials made its reopening conditional on disinfection of the premises, negative salmonella tests for staff, and a review of hygiene procedures [4][5]. After these measures were implemented, the Public Health Authority saw no obstacle to reopening the school on Tuesday, 29 September, with an external supplier set to deliver food to the main building and the kindergartens [4]. The Czech School Inspectorate stated that it had received two complaints concerning the school that were unrelated to the outbreak [5]. HSHMP spokeswoman Petra Batók said that the results of laboratory analyses of samples taken from the school canteen would likely be available on Friday [3]. The HSHMP was also preparing a set of recommendations for the school and families, including an emphasis on maintaining hygiene at home, frequent handwashing with warm water and soap, and the use of disinfectant to prevent the spread of infection among household members [2].
Police
According to Richard Hrdina, spokesman for the Prague Police, investigators have initiated criminal proceedings on suspicion of negligently endangering health through the sale of defective food; if guilt is proven, the offense carries a penalty of up to two years in prison. Police began investigating the matter on their own initiative after the Public Health Authority's report was published [4][6].
Salmonellosis and Infection Statistics in the Czech Republic
According to the National Institute of Public Health, salmonella infection most commonly occurs from contaminated food, particularly eggs, undercooked meat, frozen products containing unpasteurized eggs (such as ice cream), or unpasteurized milk, with an incubation period of 13 to 36 hours [2]. The institute states that the illness most commonly presents with diarrhea, fever of up to 39°C, cramps and abdominal pain, and vomiting lasting no more than a week; children under three months of age, the elderly, and pregnant women are at particular risk [2].
Salmonellosis is among the diseases that doctors are required to report to the National Institute of Public Health. By the end of August 2026, more than 4,000 cases had been recorded in the Czech Republic, several hundred more than in the same period the previous year, including 334 cases in Prague [2]. The number of reported cases rose every month in 2026, from 28 cases in January to 68 in August [2]. Before 2020, the Czech Republic typically recorded more than ten thousand cases of salmonellosis per year; in 2022–2024 the figure was around 7,000, and in 2025 a total of 5,729 cases were recorded [2].
Related articles: Újezd nad Lesy
Chronology
- — After an outbreak of salmonellosis at a primary school in Újezd nad Lesy, the number of infected people rose to 391, and according to the mayor the school was to reopen on Wednesday, 30 September 2026. Pražský deník Pražský patriot
- — Police began examining the serving of food made from expired eggs at a school in Prague, where salmonellosis had appeared among pupils. Pražský deník ČTK / České noviny
- — Health inspectors confirmed salmonella in pupils of the primary school in Újezd nad Lesy. ČT24 iDNES.cz, Praha
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Children Return to School (29 September 2026)
According to Novinky.cz, the number of sick people had risen to 391 by 29 September 2026; according to Petrana Slámová, deputy spokeswoman for the HSHMP, 58 of them had laboratory-confirmed salmonella.[8] Prague 21 mayor Michal Hazdra announced after a meeting of representatives from the HSHMP, the school, and the municipal office that the headmaster's day off would not be extended and that healthy children could return to school from Wednesday, 30 September 2026.[7][9] Primary school pupils must be free of symptoms; according to the mayor, children from the kindergartens should have a doctor's confirmation, including swab test results.[7] Lunches are being delivered to the school by an external company for the time being.[7]
On the morning of 29 September, three Prague hospitals had a total of 25 patients from Újezd nad Lesy: 17 at Bulovka Hospital, seven at Thomayer University Hospital, and one at Královské Vinohrady University Hospital. Petr Sulek, spokesman for Thomayer Hospital, said that seven patients were hospitalized there and that some of them should be discharged soon.[7]
The school published a job listing for the position of school canteen manager. Principal Libor Skala said that he was planning personnel changes but would wait for the HSHMP's conclusions.[7]
Sources
- ČT24 — 24 September 2026
- iDNES.cz, Praha — 23 September 2026
- Pražský deník — 24 September 2026
- Pražský deník — 25 September 2026
- ČTK / České noviny — 25 September 2026
- Deník.cz — 25 September 2026
- Pražský deník — 29 September 2026
- Novinky.cz — 29 September 2026
- Pražský patriot — 29 September 2026