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.