Hidden Spread of Rare Salmonella Serovars Isolated from Healthy Individuals - Yulin City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China, 2013-2022.

What is already known about this topic?: The emergence of rare multidrug-resistant Salmonella serovars is increasingly common in developing countries, posing a significant public health risk.

What is added by this report?: This report identified five rare Salmonella serovars in China for the first time and using whole-genome sequencing, identified their hidden spread among healthy individuals. Additionally, antibiotic resistance genes and virulence genes were identified.

What are the implications for public health practice?: Healthy individuals, especially food handlers, may be sources of hidden Salmonella dissemination. Therefore, monitoring Salmonella prevalence in healthy individuals is important for understanding and managing the risks of foodborne illness.