The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has issued a reminder to the public about the dangers of salmonella poisoning:

Symptoms:

• stomach cramps
• diarrhea
• fever
• nausea
• sometimes vomiting

Symptoms can take up to three days to appear, but most often begin 12 to 36 hours after the germs are swallowed, and generally last for several days.

How is it spread?

• The germs must be swallowed to cause disease. This may happen when someone eats food that has been contaminated with germs by not being properly handled, prepared or cooked; or when people do not wash their hands thoroughly with soap after using the toilet, changing diapers or handling reptiles.