Salmonella outbreak affects 90 people in 26 states, CDC reports

USA – A salmonella outbreak linked to raw turkey has affected 90 people in 26 states, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The CDC and public health and regulatory officials are investigating the multi-state outbreak of Salmonella Reading infections linked to raw turkey products.

According to the disease control centre, eight people from New York reported illness associated with this outbreak, 40 hospitalized and no deaths have been reported.

Illnesses began from Nov. 20, 2017, to June 29, 2018, ranging in age from less than a year old to 91 years old, with a median age of 41.

However, the CDC has not yet identified a single, common supplier of raw turkey products or live turkeys.

Of 61 people interviewed, 37 reported preparing or eating turkey products purchased raw, including ground turkey, turkey pieces or whole turkey.

They reported buying many different brands of raw turkey products from multiple stores.

Two of the 61 ill people interviewed became sick after pets in their home ate raw ground turkey pet food, while three people worked in a facility that raises or processes turkeys, or lived with someone who did.

Those infected with salmonella develop diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps 12 to 72 hours after being exposed to the bacteria.

The illness usually lasts four to seven days, and most people recover without treatment.

In some cases, the diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized. Salmonella infection can spread from the intestines to the bloodstream, and other places in the body.

In rare cases, infection can cause death unless the person is treated promptly with antibiotics.

Children younger than 5 years of age, adults older than 65 years of age, and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to have severe illness.

CDC added that it is not advising consumers to avoid eating properly cooked turkey products, or for retailers to stop selling raw turkey products.

The agency recommended consumers to always handle raw turkey carefully and cook it thoroughly to prevent food poisoning.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) is monitoring the outbreak.