The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating a series of Salmonella infections in 15 states. Of the 125 reported cases that started around June 19, 24 people have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.
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Although other foodborne illnesses date back to specific products recently, this one is not tied to any specific food, grocery store, or restaurant, according to the CDC. This means that they do not recommend that people stay away from anything in particular related to the outbreak.
The early stages of the investigation concluded that the DNA of the Salmonella bacteria in infected people is similar, and therefore the cases are likely related. Infected people live in states from North Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio, Michigan, and Illinois to Wisconsin, Missouri, Iowa, and Minnesota. Other cases of the Salmonella outbreak have been reported in Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Washington, Oregon, and California.
Related: These are the most recalled foods in the United States
Other outbreaks this summer have led to the recall of popular meat products from stores like Walmart and other retailers. More than 40,000 pounds of grass-fed organic ground beef were removed in mid-June due to possible E. coli contamination. Similarly, 60,000 pounds of Pilgrim’s Pride chicken nuggets were recalled later in the month after a customer contacted the company because they found small pieces of gum in the frozen meat.
Symptoms of a Salmonella infection begin in the intestines and include stomach cramps, diarrhea, and fever. These can develop as soon as six hours after eating contaminated food. Those can also last from four to seven days. It can also spread to the bloodstream, making symptoms more severe and requiring the patient to be hospitalized. Serious cases can occur to people with weakened immune systems and to people over the age of 65 and under the age of 5.
The CDC recommends that anyone experiencing symptoms of an infection contact a health care provider. Keep a food log and write down what you ate before you felt sick, and report it to the health department.
To avoid getting sick from a Salmonella outbreak, be sure to keep surfaces clean. Also, separate foods that don’t need to be cooked from those that do. Finally, be sure to follow proper cooking procedures. To stay updated on all the food news, Sign up for our newsletter!
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