The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a warning saying that there is a salmonella outbreak in 25 states across the U.S. However, it still does not know what caused the outbreak and noted it came from an unknown food source.
CDC said in their announcement that on Sept. 2, they identified only 20 salmonella oranienburg infections. After that, the outbreak already grew rapidly. As of last week, 127 people were infected with the salmonella outbreak, and the onset of the illnesses ranged from Aug. 3 through Sept. 1 this year.
The ages of infected people ranged from less than a year old to 82 years old. Of all the infected, 59 percent are female. Further, 18 had to be hospitalized, and fortunately, there is no recorded death, New York Post reported.
However, the CDC noted that although there are just 127 infected people reported, the number of cases may be higher. It said, “The true number of sick people in an outbreak is likely much higher than the number reported, and the outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses. This is because many people recover without medical care and are not tested for Salmonella. In addition, recent illnesses may not yet be reported as it usually takes 3 to 4 weeks to determine if a sick person is part of an outbreak.”
As for the cause of the outbreak, the local health officials in the 25 states are in the process of interviewing those infected regarding the food they ate in the week before getting infected. Several groups from the infected population noted that they ate at the same restaurant. This could help in determining the cause of the outbreak.
When you contract Salmonella, the symptoms could show within six hours to six days after getting infected. People may recover without treatment after four to seven days. However, some, especially children younger than five and adults 65 years and older with weak immune systems, may experience more severe effects of the illness. The symptoms include diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps.
To prevent Salmonella, individuals are encouraged to wash their hands, utensils, and surfaces. Rinsing fruits and vegetables and separating raw meat, poultry, and seafood from food that will not be cooked are other ways to prevent Salmonella.
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