Recent salmonella outbreaks with no known food source have more than doubled the number of infections in less than a week.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that 127 people had been infected by salmonella in 25 states on Sept. 15. This led to 18 hospitalizations. The CDC announced that the number of people infected with salmonella has more than doubled to 279, and that the outbreak has now spread to four additional states. Eight more people are now being treated for salmonella.
On September 2, 20 people became ill from the Salmonella Oranienburg strain. The CDC states that the outbreak has "grown rapidly" since then.
The outbreak has not been linked to any food source, but officials from the affected states and state have taken samples of food from restaurants from which people became ill and discovered salmonella in a condiment container containing lime and cilantro. Although the cup contained onions, they were not present when the food was tested.
"Because multiple food products were found in the container and in a sample that was tested it is impossible to determine which food item was contaminated. The agency released a statement saying that it is using the information along with other information available to narrow down the list of foods potentially linked to illness.
Officials believe that the true number of salmonella infections may be higher than what was reported. Some people are able to recover from the illness without any medical attention and so they don't need to be tested. It can take up to four weeks for a person to be confirmed or not that they are part of an outbreak.
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The outbreak is spreading across the United States according to CDC data. Texas has 81 cases and Oklahoma 40. Minnesota, 23 Virginia, 22 and 22 are other notable states that have seen outbreaks. People infected ranged from less than one year old to 89-years old. 59% of those infected are women. There have been no deaths.
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According to the CDC, symptoms of salmonella infection can include vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps, and dehydration. They can occur between six hours and six days after being exposed. Most people are able to recover on their own within four to seven days.
Salmonella can cause severe illness in children under 5 years old, 65-year-olds, and people with weak immune systems.
Uncured antipasto products weighing 862,000 pounds were recall for possible salmonella contamination. This could have caused illness in 17 states.
The CDC recommends that people take food safety precautions such as washing hands, cleaning utensils and food, and separating and cooking food to a sufficient temperature. The CDC recommends that perishable foods be refrigerated within two hours and that frozen foods be thawed in a refrigerator.
Kelly Tyko, USA Today
Follow Jordan Mendoza @jordan_mendoza
This article first appeared on USA TODAY: CDC - Salmonella outbreak doubles, Citrus and Lime Possible Sources
