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Salmonella Outbreak Causes Illness in 592 People Across 36 States

With a Salmonella outbreak felt by 592 people in 36 states, officials are currently unsure of the source of the infection’s spread.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials say they’re still learning about the cause as infections keep spreading. CDC identified 592 cases on Thursday, with Texas (149) and Oklahoma (92) topping the list.

However, KTLA reports that CDC officials say there are more than 592 people infected. Many individuals often recover without getting medical care or testing. For that reason, health officials say the outbreak is likely to go beyond 36 states.

So far, there are no fatalities from the outbreak, while 116 people are in the hospital.

CDC: Salmonella Outbreak Started Before June

Thursday’s health alert said a Salmonella Oranienburg strain link to the sicknesses came as early as May 31.

Additionally, there’s no age limit to the infections, with ages 1 through 97 getting infected.

Officials say a similar strain found in September came from a takeout condiment cup with cilantro, lime, and onions. At that time, CDC officials said they couldn’t pinpoint one ingredient or the cup as a source of the salmonella.

This time, there’s no food source, which makes things more challenging for scientists.

For the record, here are some of the past food sources from a 2019 list. You have to watch out for meat and poultry products. Raw or undercooked eggs and the dough can cause a problem, along with dairy products. Fruits, leafy greens, raw sprouts, and fresh veggies have made folks sick, including some suspect nut butter and spread.

Finally, your pup’s pet food and treats can make you sick.

Keeping The Outbreak At Bay

The CDC wants people to follow food safety measures with washing, cooking, or eating foods that carry a risk. Also, touching infected animals, their feces, or their environment could pose a threat. 

When is the outbreak over? When the CDC says so. Well, it’s when case numbers drop back down to what “investigators normally expect.”

Salmonella bacteria outbreaks cause approximately 1.3 million infections every year. There were 26,500 hospitalizations and 420 deaths last year.

Are You Infected?

You may have come in contact with the bacteria and not know it. 

That is, for at least six days. If you ingested it, you could be suffering from diarrhea, fever, stomach cramps, and possible nausea, vomiting, or headache.

Are those symptoms mild to you? You could be going through some kind of including dehydration, prolonged vomiting, prolonged diarrhea, or diarrhea with a fever of over 102 degrees. If that sounds like you, you need to get in touch with a doctor as soon as possible.

And a Salmonella infection could make for some permanent or long-lasting effects. The CDC says that while most spells of diarrhea are short-term, some may linger for a few months. Also, joint pain, or reactive arthritis, can come after the infection passes. This kind of arthritis can go for months or years with complex treatment. Two more results of arthritis can mean eye irritation and pain while urinating.