Utahn included in multi-state salmonella outbreak involving Italian deli

WASHINGTON – A dozen people have been hospitalized with salmonella and two dozen fell ill as of August 24 in multi-state outbreaks of two different strains of salmonella, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Wednesday.

People who became ill reported eating salami, prosciutto and other cold cuts that can be found in antipasto or cold cuts.

“Investigators are working to identify specific contaminated products and determine whether the two outbreaks are linked to the same food source,” the CDC said.

“Until we identify which Italian-style meats make people sick, heat all Italian-style meats to an internal temperature of 165 ° F or until warm before eating if you are more at risk, ”the CDC advised.

You are at a higher risk of getting severe salmonella disease if you are 65 years of age or older, have a chronic illness or have an immune deficiency, or if you take medicines that lower your immunity and ability your body to fight germs.

“Children under 5 are also more likely to get very sick from Salmonella,” the CDC said.

Multi-state epidemic

The number of cases of infections from the two outbreaks is likely much larger, the CDC said, as it can take weeks for disease reports to be alerted, counted and investigated. Additionally, the CDC said, many people could have mild illnesses that go unreported.

A strain of salmonella called Typhimurium infected a group of 23 people from 14 states, including one from Utah, between late May and July 27, the CDC said. Laboratory tests revealed that 20 of these cases were resistant to common antibiotics such as chloramphenicol, streptomycin, sulfamethoxazole, and tetracycline.

Nine people were hospitalized, but no deaths were reported.

The states involved in the Typhimurium epidemic are: Arizona, California, Nevada, Washington, Utah, Colorado, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, Virginia, Maryland and Indiana.

A different strain

Another 13 people were infected between early May and late June with a strain called salmonella infantis, which usually strikes children under 2 years old. The sick people were between 1 and 74 years old; among them, three were reportedly hospitalized.

No deaths have been reported and laboratory tests have shown no resistance to the antibiotics.

States involved in the strain infantis epidemic include Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, Texas, Minnesota, and New York.

Symptoms of salmonella

Symptoms of salmonella usually appear within 12 to 72 hours of eating contaminated food. These can include diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever that lasts between four and seven days, the CDC said.

Most people recover on their own, but those with persistent diarrhea may need to be hospitalized. In rare cases, the infection can enter the bloodstream and cause serious illness.