NBC Bay Area /

News

Salmonella Outbreak Hits 42 States

Updated 5:33 PM PDT, Wed, Jan 7, 2009

Getty Images/3D4Medical.com RF

The salmonella bacteria: Wash your hands.

 

ATLANTA — Health officials are investigating a salmonella outbreak that has reportedly sickened nearly 400 people in 42 states, but they don't know how the bacteria are spreading.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has not named all the states.

Ohio officials say at least 50 people there have been sickened by salmonella since October. California officials report 51 cases as of last week. Michigan had 20 cases and seven people there were hospitalized.

Most people infected with salmonella develop diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours later. The illness usually lasts four to seven days. Most people recover without treatment.

Officials say steps to protect against illness include careful handling of raw meat and frequent hand washing.

Copyright Associated Press

Comments (9)

Sort by: Most Recent | Oldest
  • skinny Thursday, Jan 8 at 7:23 PM FLAG COMMENT diarrhea,vomiting hmm.... sounds like a diet fad how to lose 20 pounds in 1 week
  • Anonymous Thursday, Jan 8 at 4:29 PM FLAG COMMENT oh, for the person posting about subway, I took my mother to the grocery store one day a few months back, "Shop Rite" In the deli, the woman mopped the floor (with her plastic gloves on), touched a few things and then asked my mother if she could help her, I was in another area of the store and my mother isn't as outspoken as I am, so mom just said "just a quarter pound of ham" with the same gloves the woman sliced my mothe ... MORE >
  • Karen Thursday, Jan 8 at 4:23 PM FLAG COMMENT Did they ever think possibly it is from egg nog? This has gone on from October to recent, that is when egg nog is sold. Not to mention other possibilities such as cranberries, etc.. They don't know what is causing it? Haven't they questioned these people, what they have eaten, put 2 and 2 together, shouldn't be that difficult, give me their phone numbers, I will call them for pete's sake!
  • anonymiss Thursday, Jan 8 at 3:22 PM FLAG COMMENT Oh, please! Just wash your hands and be done with it. It is called using a sink with hot and cold running water, handsoap, and a good 20 second or more lather-up, rinse and dry with sanitary handtowels. Gee, what is the problem!
  • norma Thursday, Jan 8 at 10:19 AM FLAG COMMENT Wash your hands mega-times a day with hot water and soap. Wash every piece of fruit, from avacado pumpkin before you cut it with soap and water, warm or hot water, and wash all knives after use. Keep clean. omg! This outbreak could be deadly.

Post a Comment

Name


Comment - You have 2000 characters left

Enter both words below, separated by a space, in the field located to the lower right. Can't read the words below? Try different words or an audio captcha. What's this?