Salmonella Blog - Surveillance & analysis on salmonella news & outbreaks

Salmonella is the City of Alburquerque's "Bug of the Month." To that end, they have posted educational information in regards to the infectious disease:

What is Salmonella?
Salmonella are microscopic living creatures that pass from the feces of people or animals, to other people or other animals. There are many different kinds of salmonella bacteria. Salmonella serotype Typhimurium and Salmonella serotype Enteritidis are the most common in the US.

Symptoms
Most people who are infected with salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most people recover without treatment.

How is it transmitted?
Salmonella are usually transmitted by eating foods contaminated with animal feces. Foods are often of animal origin, such as poultry, milk, or eggs, but all foods, including vegetables may become contaminated. Many raw foods of animal origin are frequently contaminated, but thorough cooking kills salmonella. Food may also become contaminated by the hands of an infected food handler who forgot to wash his or her hands with soap after using the bathroom.

Prevention
There is no salmonellosis vaccine. Since foods of animal origin may be contaminated with salmonella, you should avoid eating raw or undercooked eggs, poultry, or meat.

Treatment
Salmonella infections usually resolve in 5-7 days and often do not require treatment unless the patient becomes severely dehydrated or the infection spreads from the intestines. People with severe diarrhea may require rehydration, often with intravenous fluids. Antibiotics are not usually necessary unless the infection spreads from the intestines.

Tips for Preventing Salmonella Poisoning:

• Cook poultry, ground beef, and eggs thoroughly before eating. Do not eat or drink foods containing raw eggs, or raw unpasteurized milk.
• If you are served undercooked meat, poultry or eggs in a restaurant, send it back to the kitchen.
• Wash hands, kitchen work surfaces, and utensils with soap and water immediately after they have been in contact with raw meat or poultry.
• Be particularly careful with foods prepared for infants, the elderly, and people with weak immune systems.
• Wash hands with soap after handling reptiles or birds, or after contact with pet feces.
  Avoid direct or even indirect contact between reptiles (turtles, iguanas, other lizards, snakes) and infants or people with weak immune systems).
• Don't work with raw poultry or meat, and an infant (e.g., feed, change diaper) at the same time.
   

www.about-salmonella.com

Salmonella is one of the most common enteric (intestinal) infections in the U.S. In some states (e.g. Georgia, Maryland) it is the most common, and overall it is the second most common foodborne illness (usually slightly less frequent than a Campylobacter infection). The reported incidence of Salmonella illnesses are about 17 cases per each 100,000 persons.1

Salmonella is a type of bacteria that causes typhoid fever and many other infections of intestinal origin. Typhoid fever, rare in the U.S., is caused by a particular strain designated Salmonella typhi. But illness due to other Salmonella strains, called "salmonellosis," is common in the U.S. Today, the number of known strains (technically termed "serotypes" or "serovars") of this bacterium total over 2,300.

Over 40,000 actual cases are reported and confirmed yearly in the U.S.2 As only about 3% of Salmonella cases are officially reported nationwide,3 and many milder cases are never diagnosed, the true incidence is undoubtedly much higher. It is more common in the warmer months of the year. Approximately 500 to 1,0004 persons, or 31% of all food-related deaths2 are caused by Salmonella infections in the U.S. every year.

In 1885, pioneering American veterinary scientist, Daniel E. Salmon, discovered the first strain of Salmonella from the intestine of a pig. This strain was called Salmonella choleraesuis, the designation that is still used to describe the genus and species of this common human pathogen.

Salmonella is the likely cause of a food poisoning outbreak that may have hit up to 400 Melburnians, including a toddler. Authorities are still testing but yesterday confirmed at least 135 had food poisoning - up from 24 confirmed cases on Friday.

More than 400 people have called health authorities to complain of illness after eating at two Turkish restaurants in Sydney Rd, Brunswick - Alasya and Alasya 2 - between January 8 and 19.

Of the confirmed cases, five have been definitely linked to salmonella, Department of Human Services acting chief health officer John Carnie said. Fifteen people have been hospitalized, the youngest aged three and the oldest 73.

Alasya and Alasya 2 were closed on Wednesday when 17 people became ill after eating there. The two restaurants have undergone major cleaning and will remain closed while local council, health officials and the health department investigate the source of the outbreak.
 

To prevent salmonella bacterial infection:

• Cook poultry, ground beef, and eggs thoroughly before eating. In order to insure that eggs do not contain viable salmonella, they must be cooked at least until the yoke is solid and meat and poultry must reach 160 degrees F or greater throughout.
• Do not eat or drink foods containing raw eggs. Examples include homemade eggnog, hollandaise sauce, and undercooked French toast.
• Never drink raw (unpasteurized) milk.
• If you are served undercooked meat, poultry or eggs in a restaurant don't hesitate to send it back to the kitchen for further cooking.
• Wash hands, kitchen work surfaces, and utensils with soap and water immediately after they have been in contact with foods of animal origin.
• Be particularly careful with foods prepared for infants, the elderly, and those with a compromised immune system.
• Wash hands with soap after handling reptiles, amphibians or birds, or after contact with pet feces. Infants and immunocompromised persons should have no direct or indirect contact with such pets.
   

 

Amarillo Environmental Health officials have traced a salmonella outbreak to the Tacos Garcia restaurant located at 1100 Ross Street. At least twelve patrons who ate together at the restaurant on January 4 became ill with salmonella poisoning. Four members of the group submitted stool samples that tested positive for the bacteria, and all members were epidemiologically linked to the outbreak.

Resources for victims of salmonella outbreaks are available on the Web, with sponsored sites on salmonella and salmonella litigation provided by Marler Clark, the Seattle law firm nationally recognized for its successful representation of victims of foodborne illness. The firm sponsors a website specifically about salmonella -- its symptoms, risks of infection, treatment, and news about outbreaks, as well as a site about salmonella litigation.

The Department of Environmental Health confirmed Wednesday four cases of salmonella linked to the Tacos Garcia at 1100 Ross St. All of the people with confirmed cases ate at the restaurant January 4th, reports the Amarillo Globe-News.

Infection by the salmonella bacteria causes salmonellosis, which can include diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps as symptoms, according to WedMD's Web site.

"They develop 12 to 72 hours after infection, and the illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days. Most people recover without treatment. However, in some people the diarrhea and its related complications, especially dehydration, may be so severe that hospitalization is needed," according to information on the Web site.

 

The acute symptoms of salmonella gastroenteritis include the sudden onset of nausea, abdominal cramping, and bloody diarrhea with mucous. The onset of symptoms usually occurs within 6 to 72 hours after the ingestion of the bacteria. The infectious dose is small, probably from 15 to 20 cells.

There is no real cure for a salmonella infection except treatment of the symptoms. For most strains of salmonella, the fatality rate is less than one percent.

Salmonella infections usually resolve in five to seven days, and many times require no treatment, unless the patient becomes severely dehydrated or the infection spreads from the intestines. Persons with severe diarrhea may require rehydration, often with intravenous fluids. Treatment with antibiotics is not usually necessary, unless the infection spreads from the intestines, or otherwise persists, in which case the infection can be treated with ampicillin, gentamicin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, or ciprofloxacin.

Some salmonella bacteria have become resistant to antibiotics, however, and this has occurred possibly as a result of the use of antibiotics to promote the growth of feed animals.
 

Diamondback's Casino was closed by the Kittitas County Health Department Tuesday afternoon while it investigates a possible food-borne illness outbreak.

The Health Department reported more than 20 people have called with complaints of diarrhea, nausea and vomiting after eating at Diamondback's sometime over the New Year's weekend.

Diamondback's manager and chef Bob Mayer said some people who attended the restaurant's New Year's Eve gathering, and some who ate at the restaurant on Saturday and Sunday reported having symptoms. He said several people who also ate at the restaurant on those days did not exhibit any symptoms.

The casino portion of the restaurant remains open though with a limited menu. Any foods served must be prepared by an outside source.
 

Blaming adverse publicity from a salmonella outbreak this past summer that sickened more than 400 people, Coronet Foods said it was ceasing operations today at its plant in Wheeling, West Virginia, leaving 220 workers without jobs.

The plant, which supplied bagged salads, vegetables and fruits to customers in about 20 states in New England, the Midwest and the mid-Atlantic region, informed its workers at the close of business yesterday.

Coronet distributed sliced Roma tomatoes used in sandwiches sold at Sheetz convenience stores. About 330 Pennsylvanians who ate the sandwiches got sick with salmonella, and the outbreak is believed to have sickened another 80 people in nearby states.

After the outbreak, Coronet lost its business with Sheetz, responsible for about 8 percent of revenues. Coronet, which has operated in Wheeling for nearly 40 years, was unable to find buyers or partners that would allow the business to continue.

The company is continuing discussions with several prospective buyers, but no firm purchase offers have been made. The company said it would keep its human resources office open temporarily and work with local employment assistance services to help workers find jobs.
 

A grandmother is suing a Kennesaw restaurant, claiming she and her 4-year-old granddaughter were sickened after eating lunch there last month. The lawsuit was filed the same day the popular establishment reopened after a salmonella food poisoning outbreak.

Bonnie Bartley and Allison B. Luster, 4, of Marietta, claimed they both became extremely ill after eating lunch at the Golden Corral on Barrett Parkway, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit demands that the restaurant compensate the plaintiffs for medical bills, attorney fees and any other fees the court may deem appropriate.

The establishment is one of a dozen Golden Corrals in the metro area owned by Charles Winston. He voluntarily closed the restaurant Sept. 9 while state health officials scrutinized it for a source of contamination. Equipment and surfaces were once again thoroughly scrubbed and sanitized.

Other patrons of the restaurant who claim they were sickened at the Golden Corral are considering litigation, said William Marler, a Seattle attorney. He is being assisted by William Lanham with the downtown Atlanta firm Johnson and Ward.
 

Television station WTLV in Jacksonville, Florida recently swabbed some ordinary grocery items and got some startling results -- ten times out of 10, there were germs on that shopping cart.

The station sent a crew into several grocery stores to pick up a few things that were out in the open, like fruits and vegetables. A bag was the only thing to touch them. The station also swabbed a number of carts inside and out, where shoppers put their hands and where children sit and touch.

WTLV took the shopping cart swabs, as well as apples, grapes, blueberries, peppers and cucumbers, to the labs at Shands Jacksonville Medical Center.

The swabs and the fruits and vegetables were then cultured to watch the bacteria grow. A day later, the results were available, and what the station saw wasn't so appetizing. WTLV reported that from the cart swabs, nothing was dangerous. It was bacteria one would find in the environment or on healthy people.

The bad news came from the fruit and vegetable test. Researchers found bacteria from the same family as salmonella and shigella on the cucumber. As for the other fruits and vegetables, the apple had the least amount of bacteria. The blueberries and grapes had the most.

"Hand washing is the cheapest and most efficient way of preventing infections," said Dr. Mobene Rathore, of Shands Jacksonville.

And wash what you buy.
 

Baby turtles sold in Central Florida as holiday gifts may be exposing families to an invisible health risk, according to a Local 6 News report. A Local 6 News investigation has found the turtles are being sold in Central Florida. FDA and health officials want parents to know salmonella may be on the shells and skin of the turtles.

The FDA has banned the sale of red ear slider turtles in the 1970s following a massive outbreak of salmonella poisoning. Turtles less than 4 inches in length were banned because they were easy for children to put in their mouth.

Parents are urged to make sure children wash their hands if they've handled the pets, according to the report.
 

William Marler is the managing partner in the law firm Marler Clark L.L.P., P.S. Since 1993, Mr. Marler has represented thousands of victims of E. coli, Salmonella, Hepatitis A, Listeria, Shigella, Campylobacter and Norwalk Virus illnesses in over thirty States. As a trial lawyer, Mr. Marler has been involved with several cases of national importance. He represented the children murdered by Wesley Alan Dodd, an escaped Washington State convict; the family of William Louth, who died when a crane collapsed during Kingdome roof repairs; the Terlicker family in its suit against Martin Pang and the City of Seattle stemming from an arson fire; and Brianne Kiner in her $15.6 million E. coli settlement with Jack-in-the-Box. This settlement created a state record for an individual personal injury action. Mr. Marler resolved several other Jack-in-the-Box E. coli cases for more than $2.5 million each. In May of 1998, he settled the Odwalla Juice E. coli outbreak for the families of children who were severely injured after consuming Odwalla apple juice for $12 million. He represented several children in an E. coli outbreak stemming from E. coli contaminated swimming pool water in Georgia. In 2001 he successfully tried to verdict an E. coli case involving a school lunch program in Washington State. The jury returned a verdict of $4.75 million. He also resolved dozens of E. coli cases in 2003 related to one of the largest meat recalls in United States. Mr. Marler recently settled an E. coli case for a young girl for $11 million. In addition, Mr. Marler has been lead counsel in: Sheetz Salmonella Outbreak: www.about-salmonella.com/articles/Sheetz/Sheetz.htm Paramount Farms Salmonella Outbreak: www.about-salmonella.com/articles/paramount/paramount.htm Sequoias E. coli Outbreak: www.about-ecoli.com/news/sequoias.htm Chi Chi's Hepatitis A Outbreak: http://www.about-hepatitis.com/articles/chichis/chichis.htm Goldcoast Produce E. coli Outbreak: http://www.about-ecoli.com/news/goldcoast.htm Golden Corral Salmonella Outbreak: www.about-salmonella.com/articles/goldencorral/goldencorral.htm Habaneros E. coli Outbreak: http://www.about-ecoli.com/news/habanero.htm Chili's Salmonella Outbreak: www.about-salmonella.com/articles/chilis/chilis.htm