Mysterious Salmonella Outbreak Leads to Illness in 29 States—Here's What You Need to Know
The CDC is investigating a mysterious salmonella outbreak that began on August 3.
As of September 21, 279 people have been infected in 29 states—no deaths have yet been reported.
The CDC believes the outbreak may be linked to a condiment used in restaurants, containing cilantro and lime—but it's still investigating the cause.
At this time, the CDC has yet to officially announce a recall.
The Center for Disease Control announced it's investigating a multi-state outbreak of salmonella infections, but health professionals are unable to identify the specific food causing the outbreak.
On September 2, the CDC identified 20 salmonella infections, and since then the total number of infected people has since rapidly increased. As of September 21, the CDC reported 279 people had been infected with the strain in 29 states. Those infected with Salmonella range from under one year old to 89 years old, making targeting the source of the outbreak all the more interesting.
As of the most recent news, at least 26 people have been hospitalized, but no deaths have been reported. Currently, the highest number of known cases is in Texas with 81 people falling ill, followed by 40 cases reported in Oklahoma, 23 in Illinois, 22 in Virginia, and 19 in Minnesota, according to the CDC.
But the real question remains: what food is causing the outbreak? Through interviews about food infected people ate, multiple cases can be traced back to restaurants. Investigators have collected foods that those who contracted the illness consumed recently, and tests pointed to cilantro as a potential source of salmonella, the CDC reported.
Though cilantro seems likely, the CDC is hesitant to claim it as the culprit. Making matters even more difficult, the salmonella strain was detected in a sample taken from a condiment cup from a takeout restaurant. The salmonella-contaminated sample contained cilantro and lime—but, it also had onions. Unfortunately, no onions remained in the cup to be tested, according to the CDC.
Because the tested food contained multiple ingredients, investigators are unable to determine which food item was specifically contaminated. They’re currently working to identify the items linked to the illness with the help of additional information from those who have fallen ill. At this time, the CDC reports that no food has been officially recalled.
What's even more concerning, is that the true number of infected people is likely much higher than the 279 we've seen so far. This is because many people don't report the illness or get tested for salmonella, the CDC estimates. And, it takes approximately three to four weeks for health officials to determine if a salmonella infection is part of a larger outbreak.
Salmonella is a bacterial infection that lives in the intestines of people and animals. People can get salmonella infections by eating contaminated foods, drinking contaminated water, or touching infected animals, their feces, or the animals' environment. A laboratory test can determine if salmonella is present, and may be treated with antibiotics, though this isn’t always necessary.
Symptoms of salmonella usually begin six hours to six days after infection and often include diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps. The symptoms typically last four to seven days, but some people experience symptoms weeks later and may last for several weeks, according to the CDC.
Although the symptoms aren’t exactly pleasant, most people recover without treatment, the CDC reports. If you suspect you're experiencing a salmonella infection, contact your doctor and focus on keeping yourself hydrated. In some serious cases, hospitalization and antibiotics are required.
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