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Number of Salmonella-infected turkeys increases: Nearly 300 people in 41 states have fallen ill, CDC report says
- Salmonella cases have been reported in 41 states and in the District of Columbia.
- The total number of diseases across the country is now 279, including one death in California.
- Investigators found the strain of salmonella in raw ground turkey, raw turkey patties, raw pet food and live turkeys
- No single common supplier has been identified, raising fears that the strain is widespread in the turkey industry
Mary Kekatos Health Journalist for Dailymail.com
Several other people have been infected with salmonella after eating contaminated turkey, according to federal health authorities.
Since December, an additional 63 people have fallen ill – bringing the national total to 279 in 41 states and the District of Columbia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The epidemic in several states resulted in 107 hospitalizations and one death in California.
Investigators found the strain of salmonella in raw ground turkey, raw turkey patties, raw pet food and live turkeys.
As a result, the CDC has not been able to identify a single, common supplier and the agency is concerned that the strain will be widespread in the turkey industry.
According to federal health officials, an additional 63 people were infected with salmonella after eating contaminated turkey, bringing the national total to 279 in 41 states and the District of Columbia.
Although no suppliers have been identified, several products have been recalled since the beginning of the epidemic in November 2017.
The first recall was in February 2018 when Minneapolis, Minnesota-based Raw for Paws recalled 4,000 pounds of some chubs from its ground turkey food.
Then, in November 2018, the Barron, Wisconsin-based Jennie-O Turkey Store Sales store recalled nearly 150,000 pounds of raw ground turkey.
Barely a month later, Jennie-O recalled another 164,000 pounds of raw ground turkey.
And, in January 2018, Woody's Deli Pet Food, Minnesota, recalled raw turkey pet foods, but did not specify how much of its products were affected.
Salmonella infections occur after eating raw meat and eggs or food contaminated with the bacteria.
Symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain that usually last between four and seven days.
According to the CDC, salmonella is the cause of 1.2 million illnesses, 23,000 hospitalizations and 450 deaths in the United States each year.
Most people can recover without treatment, although in some cases, antibiotics or intravenous solutions are needed.
The CDC states that the United States has experienced more salmonella outbreaks in 2018 than any other year since at least 2005.
In June 2018, Kellogg voluntarily recalled the Honey Smacks variety of baby cereals, linked to a major salmonella outbreak that infected 100 people.
In July 2018, Mondelez International recalled 16 varieties of products based on Ritz Cracker sandwiches and Ritz Bits products on the risks associated with salmonella, with the fall of two people.
That same month, Pepperidge Farm voluntarily recalled four types of goldfish crackers due to the fear of salmonella.
An outbreak of antibiotic-resistant salmonella linked to raw chicken has sickened at least 92 people in 29 US states, the CDC reported last October.
Epidemics appear to be continuing until 2019.
Last month, General Mills released a nationwide voluntary recall of unbleached Gold Medal flour bags on salmonellosis issues.
In addition, Whole Foods has recalled various items in eight US states for fear of containing salmonella.
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