The number of epidemic outbreaks in the Community of Madrid grew by 4.5% in 2025, reaching a total of 442 episodes, with acute gastroenteritis (AGE) of non-food origin being the most frequent and with a special prominence of those related to the flu, which multiplied the associated cases by almost six and hospitalizations by six compared to the previous year.
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Despite this increase in the number of outbreaks, the number of cases associated with them fell by 28.4%, down to 7,196, according to the latest data available from the Directorate General of Public Health, collected by Europa Press.
Last year, a total of 574 hospital admissions were recorded, with a significant increase of 149.6% compared to the previous year. In addition, 26 deaths were recorded.
These data represent an overall annual incidence of 6.21 outbreaks per 100,000 inhabitants, a rate of associated cases of 101.15 per 100,000 inhabitants, and a proportion of admissions of 8% relative to the total cases.
Outbreaks related to catering establishments, institutions, or collective groups have totaled 362 outbreaks, 81.9% of the total, a figure similar to the previous year. On the other hand, family or private environment outbreaks have increased by 48.1%, reaching 80.
The number of cases and the number of admissions have also increased in family outbreaks (17.4% and 75.4%, respectively). Cases associated with collective outbreaks decreased from 9,885 in 2024 to 6,994 in 2025 (-29.2%), and hospitalizations increased from 161 to 453 (181.4% more in 2025).
Non-food origin
Acute gastroenteritis outbreaks of non-food origin led with 121, 27.4% of the total, although with a 20.4% decrease compared to the previous year (31 fewer), according to data collected by Europa Press. The incidence was 1.70 per 100,000 inhabitants.
They accounted for a total of 4,080 associated cases, representing a 40.7% decrease compared to 2024 (-2,795) and 56.7% of the total. The number of admissions was 49, three more than the previous year, with a hospitalization rate of 1.2% of cases. Additionally, two deaths were reported, both in elderly care homes, one due to bronchial aspiration in a bedridden person with high dependency and another due to exacerbation of underlying conditions.
By group, outbreaks in residences and centers for the elderly have been by far the most reported, with 103, 85.1% of the total. They also had the highest number of associated cases, 3,852 (94.4% of the total), and hospitalizations, with 40 (81.6%).
However, these were the ones that decreased the most compared to 2024, with a 22.6% drop in the number of outbreaks (30 fewer) and a 40.3% decrease in cases (-2,603).
Outbreaks occurring in autumn-winter accounted for 77.7% of the total. Regarding the etiological agent (virus, bacteria, fungus, parasite, prion), the most frequent causal agent was viruses, especially noroviruses, which were behind 90.2% of microbiologically confirmed outbreaks and 45.5% of the total acute gastroenteritis outbreaks of non-food origin.
These mostly occurred in elderly care homes (48 outbreaks), followed by those affecting residences for people with disabilities (4 outbreaks).
Food origin
On the other hand, foodborne outbreaks rose to 101, 2% more than the previous year. This represents an incidence of 1.40 outbreaks per 100,000 inhabitants.
The number of associated cases was 1,219, with an overall decrease of 20%, and 49 admissions were recorded, 4% of the total. Although hospitalizations increased by 14%, no deaths were recorded, compared to two the year before.
67.35% of the total cases, with 821 affected, came from 12 outbreaks with at least 20 positives each, all related to food prepared or consumed in collective dining areas, notably educational centers (five outbreaks).
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Foodborne outbreaks in catering establishments were the most frequent, with 70 outbreaks (69.3% of the total). They were followed by outbreaks in homes or private places, with 14 outbreaks (13.9%), and school groups, with six outbreaks (5.9%).
The highest total number of cases occurred in schools, with 382, 31.3% of the total. Almost all hospitalizations were in catering establishments (25 admissions, 51%) and homes (21 admissions, 42.9%).
Foodborne outbreaks in catering establishments increased in number compared to the previous year by 18.6%, although with a 24.5% decrease in the total number of associated cases. In private homes, there was an increase in the number of reported outbreaks and admissions (16.7% and 50%, respectively), with one-third fewer associated cases.
There was also a notable decrease in elderly centers and company dining rooms. The median number of cases per outbreak was 57 in educational centers (32 in 2024) and 3 in catering establishment outbreaks (also 3 in 2024) and in private homes (3.5 in 2024).
More than half of the foodborne outbreaks (55.4%) and almost a quarter of the cases (23.5%) occurred in the municipality of Madrid, especially in the districts of Chamberí (8 outbreaks), Centro and Salamanca (6 outbreaks each).
In 39 outbreaks (38.6%) the causal agent was confirmed. The most frequent agent among the confirmed was Salmonella (20), with the highest number of cases (123) and admissions (45). Next in frequency were Campylobacter (5 foodborne outbreaks), S. aureus (4), and B. cereus and biogenic amines (3 foodborne outbreaks each).
Regarding the patients and admissions generated, Salmonella was also the most prominent agent, with figures of 36.8% and 93.8%, respectively. Outbreaks caused by norovirus and biogenic amines stood out for the average number of associated cases: 32.5 and 12 cases per outbreak, respectively, compared to Salmonella outbreaks (4 cases on average), S. aureus (3.5 cases), and Campylobacter (3 cases).
Flu incidence
The list is completed by another 220 outbreaks of various diseases, which resulted in a total of 1,897 cases and 476 admissions. Among them, flu outbreaks stand out in number, with 79. As a result, 1,033 cases and 362 admissions were recorded in 2025, 35% of the total.
Year-on-year, flu outbreaks increased from 17 to 79, multiplying by 4.6; associated cases grew from 177 to 1,033, almost six times more; and hospitalizations rose from 60 to 362, six times more, according to data consulted by Europa Press.
In this case, 21 deaths were also reported, recorded in 14 elderly care homes and two residences for people with disabilities. This triples the seven deaths from the previous year.
They are followed by scabies outbreaks, with 47, which also left 425 associated cases and 65 admissions (78.3% of them), and pulmonary tuberculosis, with 35 outbreaks that left 83 cases. In this case, 65 hospital admissions and two deaths occurred in private homes (in people with previous risk factors).
Next were hepatitis A outbreaks, with a total of 30 episodes, which left 62 cases and 42 admissions (67.7% of cases).
Other outbreaks included chickenpox (6 outbreaks with 42 cases), scarlet fever (3 outbreaks with 18 cases), impetigo (3 outbreaks with 17 cases), respiratory syncytial virus infection (2 outbreaks with 10 cases), mpox (2 outbreaks with 6 cases), and one outbreak each of legionellosis (2 cases) and tularemia (2 cases). Additionally, one death was recorded in a legionellosis outbreak in an elderly care home.
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