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An outbreak of salmonella probably linked to raw chicken has spread across the country, making at least five people sick in Illinois since spring, officials said Wednesday.
The Illinois Department of Public Health said that five cases of bacterial infection had been reported in that state, one of 29 cases in which a strain of multidrug-resistant salmonella had been discovered . A total of 92 people were affected across the country, resulting in 21 hospitalizations and no deaths, according to Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The strain of the outbreak has been identified in live chickens and raw chicken products, and not from any one vendor in particular, health officials said.
"This is a sign that it could have spread in the chicken industry," said Emma Ciavarella, spokesperson for the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Confirmed cases in Illinois have occurred between April and August of this year in different parts of the state, Ciavarella said. The CDC is working with the US Department of Agriculture to study the strain and collaborate with the chicken industry to reduce contamination.
People infected with salmonella often develop diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after consuming contaminated food, and the illness usually lasts four to seven days, according to the health department.
"This is another reason why people must now comply with food safety guidelines, especially when handling chicken," Ciavarella said.
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