Chicken salmonella outbreak: 92 patients in 29 states, including Illinois and Indiana

At least 92 people in 29 US states have been infected with a multi-drug-resistant strain of salmonella after coming in contact with various raw chicken products, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported on Wednesday. Twenty-one of the sick patients were hospitalized, but no deaths were reported.

Laboratory tests do not determine the source of the raw chicken and no common supplier has been identified. The strain has been demonstrated in samples of various raw chicken products, including pet foods, chicken pieces, chopped pieces of meat and whole chickens. The bacterium has also been found in live chickens. The Food Inspection and Safety Department of the US Department of Agriculture monitors the outbreak and the CDC investigation is underway.

This particular salmonella strain is resistant to several antibiotics, the most common form of treatment.

People with this strain experienced stomach pain, cramps, diarrhea and fever 12 to 72 hours after exposure to the bacteria.

Most people infected with salmonella, the most common cause of foodborne illness, get better after four to seven days without treatment. Symptoms can worsen in people with underlying medical conditions, children under 5 and people over 65 because their immune system is usually weaker.

According to the CDC, the epidemic began in January and more people tested positive for this strain until September.

Patients live in California, Washington, Texas, Nebraska, Missouri, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Hawaii, Massachusetts and Maine.

Do not forget that poultry can spread germs every time you handle it, notes the CDC. Therefore, always wash your hands when handling raw meat or poultry. Do not wash the chicken before cooking it, as it may spread germs on other surfaces. Wipe surfaces that have been in contact with raw meat and use a separate cutting board. Cook the chicken at a temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit to kill harmful bacteria.

Some people may like to feed their raw chicken cats and dogs, but the CDC recommends not to eat it. The presence of germs in the food can make your pets sick, and you can get sick by handling them.

If you keep chickens as pets, it is not recommended to be too friendly with your poultry. The costumes may look cute to cats and dogs, but the CDC suggests to avoid dressing your hens or cuddling them for not being exposed to these bacteria.

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