Patients in new Salmonella outbreak live in 2 Western states; other areas may be affected

Patients in a new Salmonella Weltevreden outbreak live in Nevada and Arizona, but health officials say there may be people in other states who have been infected.

Virtually no details were released June 8 when the Food and Drug Administration revealed the outbreak in a weekly data table.

Today a spokesperson from the Centers of Disease and Control and Prevention said the most recent patient to become ill had symptom onset in late April. Six people have been confirmed as outbreak patients.

“If the information we collect indicates that there could be an ongoing risk to the public, we will issue a Food Safety Alert,” the CDC spokesperson told Food Safety News.

Neither the CDC nor the FDA have reported how long they have been aware of the illnesses.

In its CORE outbreak data table the Food and Drug Administration reported that investigators have begun traceback efforts, but they have not identified a specie source of the pathogen. Most Salmonella infections come from contaminated food. Very small amounts of the microscopic organism can cause serious illnesses in humans.

About Salmonella infections
Food contaminated with Salmonella bacteria does not usually look, smell, or taste spoiled. Anyone can become sick with a Salmonella infection. Infants, children, seniors, and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of serious illness because their immune systems are fragile, according to the CDC.

Anyone who has developed symptoms of Salmonella infection should seek medical attention. Sick people should tell their doctors about the possible exposure to Salmonella bacteria because special tests are necessary to diagnose salmonellosis. Salmonella infection symptoms can mimic other illnesses, frequently leading to misdiagnosis.

Symptoms of Salmonella infection can include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food. Otherwise, healthy adults are usually sick for four to seven days. In some cases, however, diarrhea may be so severe that patients require hospitalization.

Older adults, children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems, such as cancer patients, are more likely to develop a severe illness and serious, sometimes life-threatening conditions.

Some people get infected without getting sick or showing any symptoms. However, they may still spread the infections to others.

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