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A recent outbreak of salmonella with no known food source more than doubled the number of infections in more than a week.
On September 15, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 127 people in 25 states had been infected with salmonella, resulting in 18 hospitalizations. On Thursday, the CDC announced that the number of reported illnesses had more than doubled: 279 people were sick and the epidemic has reached four other states. Eight more people have now been hospitalized with salmonella.
On September 2, 20 people were reported ill with the Salmonella Oranienburg strain. Since then, the CDC says the epidemic has “grown rapidly.”
No food source has been attributed to the outbreak, but state and local authorities in infected states have collected food samples from restaurants where sick people ate and found salmonella in a condiment cup containing cilantro and lime. The cup also contained onions, but they were not inside when the food was tested.
“Because several foods were present in the container and in the sample tested, it is not possible to know which food was contaminated. We use this information in conjunction with other available information to help narrow the list of possible foods linked to the disease, ”the agency said in a statement.
Health officials also believe the actual number of infections is much higher than reported, as some people recover from salmonella without medical attention and therefore are not tested for it. It can also take up to four weeks to determine if someone was part of an outbreak.
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CDC data shows the epidemic has spread to the United States; Texas, 81, and Oklahoma, 40, have the most cases. Other notable states with outbreaks include Illinois, 23, Virginia, 22, and Minnesota, 19. Those infected ranged from less than one year to 89 years old; 59% of sick people are women. No deaths have been reported.
Symptoms of salmonella infection include diarrhea, vomiting, fever, stomach cramps and dehydration, which can begin six hours to six days after being exposed to the bacteria, according to the CDC. Most people recover without treatment after four to seven days.
Children under 5, people 65 years of age and older, and people with weakened immune systems may suffer from more serious illness from salmonella.
Last month, 862,000 pounds of undried antipasto were recalled for possible salmonella contamination that has caused illness in people in 17 states.
The CDC recommends that people take food safety measures such as cleaning utensils, hands, and food, as well as keeping different foods separate and making sure all foods are cooked to a high enough temperature. The agency also recommends refrigerating perishable foods within two hours and thawing foods in a refrigerator.
Contribution: Kelly Tyko, USA TODAY
Follow Jordan Mendoza on Twitter: @ jordan_mendoza5.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: CDC: Double outbreak of salmonella, possible sources of cilantro and lime
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