Mysterious salmonella outbreak sickened in 25 states

A massive epidemic of Salmonella the bacteria have sickened people in at least 25 states, health officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported. So far, however, the exact source of the foodborne illness remains a mystery, and authorities are asking those suspected of having stomach flu to report it to their local health departments.

As of September 17, according to the CDC, there have been 127 outbreaks reported. Among them, 18 people were hospitalized and none died. Cases have been found from coast to coast, although Texas has seen the most, with 45 to date.

Salmonella have a fuzzy, rod-shaped appearance bacteria that live harmlessly in the bowels of many animals, including humans. But some types can cause disease when they enter our body from another place. This usually happens when we eat food or water that is contaminated with poop infected from an animal or other person, but you can also get it by handling live animals like chickens and turtles.

Most cases of salmonella are mild and go away without medical intervention, with symptoms such as diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps that last for a few days to a week. Often times, people don’t even know they have specifically contracted Salmonella because the disease is not severe enough to warrant a visit to the doctor for a test. Rarely, however, the infection can cause more serious or even fatal illness. This risk is higher in people with weaker immune systems, such as the elderly, the very young, and people who are immunocompromised. Each year, according to CDC estimates, salmonella causes approximately 1.35 million infections, 26,500 hospitalizations and 420 deaths.

The culprit of this epidemic is a subspecies called Salmonella Oranienbourg. And the first reported cases appeared in early August. But beyond that, CDC officials are unsure which food item is causing the outbreak, which they describe as “rapidly growing.” In the past, outbreaks of this particular germ have been linked to eggs, pet turtles, and even Chocolate, the list of potential suspects is therefore quite long.

For now, the CDC is advising anyone with symptoms that could be Salmonella to see a doctor and report their illness to their local health department. This report should include useful details like foods eaten in the past week, as symptoms typically appear within six hours to six days of exposure. And if you have severe symptoms like bloody diarrhea, fever over 102 degrees Fahrenheit, and / or profuse vomiting, you should immediately seek out medical help.

To avoid catching salmonella and other nasty stomach bugs, the CDC recommends cooking your food at quite high temperatures, wash hands, utensils and surfaces often, rinse fruits and vegetables under running water before eating or cutting them, and separate raw meat from other ingredients that will not be cooked during food preparation . You must also resist the urge to to kiss your backyard hens.