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What is
Salmonellosis?
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Salmonellosis is an
infection caused by a bacteria called Salmonella that infects the
intestines. It is commonly found in young children.
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What are the
symptoms Salmonellosis? |
The symptoms of
Salmonellosis include: Diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headache, fever and
sometimes vomiting. Salmonellosis usually lasts between four and seven
days. Children may show mild symptoms or they could be infected and show
no symptoms.
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How is Salmonellosis
spread? |
Salmonella
leaves the body through the stool of an infected person and enters the
body of another person when hands, food or objects contaminated with the
stool are placed in the mouth. Salmonella can be spread whether or not
the first person feels sick. It can also be spread through contact with
farm animals, infected pets (usually puppies or kittens) and reptiles.
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How can I keep from
getting Salmonellosis? |
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Do not
eat raw or undercooked eggs, poultry or meat. If you are served
undercooked eggs, poultry or meat from a restaurant, do not hesitate to
send it back to the kitchen for further cooking.
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Thoroughly wash fruits and vegetables before consuming.
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Make
sure foods are not cross-contaminated. Keep raw food like meats and eggs
away from cooked, ready-to-eat foods.
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Wash
cutting boards, counters, knives and utensils with soap and water after
handling uncooked food.
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Wash
your hands with soap and water after handling uncooked food and after
contact with animal or human feces.
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People
with Salmonellosis should not handle food for others who do not have
Salmonellosis.
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Be
especially careful with foods prepared for infants, the elderly, and
those with a weakened immune system.
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Families with
children under age 12 should not have reptiles or amphibians as
pets, as Salmonellosis can be transferred when handling these
animals
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I've heard reports about an outbreak of Salmonellosis tied to
canteloupes. What should I know? |
State and local health departments are investigating a nationwide
outbreak of Salmonellosis that appears to be linked to canteloupes.
Kentucky has reported more than 50 cases, including two cases from
Northern Kentucky.
State health officials recommend that
consumers not purchase or eating melons from Southwest Indiana. Other
steps to prevent Salmonellosis include:
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Inspect
the melon to make sure it is intact. Germs such as Salmonella can enter
the fruit through breaks in the skin.
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Wash cantaloupes and other melons with clean water under pressure, and a
mild detergent, utilizing a produce brush. Remove all visible soil.
Melons with more pourous surfaces should be washed extra carefully, as
the holes can harbor germs.
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Wash hands thoroughly after handling cantaloupes.
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Don’t store unwashed produce, including cantaloupe, on top of
ready-to-eat foods in your refrigerator.
Wash the melons prior to putting them in the refrigerator.
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Don’t store washed and freshly cut, ready-to-eat melons, under raw meat
in the refrigerator.
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Make sure knives and other utensils used to cut melons are clean.
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Clean and sanitize surfaces where melons were cut, and do the same for
utensils used in cutting melons.
An effective sanitizer solution can be made by mixing one capful
of regular, unscented household bleach into a gallon of water.
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Promptly refrigerate any cut melons that aren’t immediately consumed
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If I’ve been exposed
to Salmonellosis, how long will it take for symptoms to develop?
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The initial symptoms
of Salmonellosis can occur between 12 and 72 hours after exposure. |
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What treatments are
available for Salmonellosis? How serious is the disease? |
Salmonellosis
infections usually resolve in four to seven days and do not require
treatment unless the patient becomes dehydrated or the infection spreads
from the intestines, either of which can result in hospitalization.
If the infection
spreads, it can be treated with antibiotics. However, if the infection
spreads to the blood stream and then to other body sites and is not
promptly treated with antibiotics, death can occur.
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How many cases of
Salmonellosis have been reported in Kentucky?
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An average of 39
cases of Salmonellosis are reported in Northern Kentucky (Boone,
Campbell, Grant and Kenton counties) each year.
An average of 396
cases of Salmonellosis are reported in Kentucky each year.
State and local health departments are investigating a nationwide
outbreak of Salmonellosis that appears to be linked to canteloupes.
Kentucky has reported more than 50 cases, including two cases from
Northern Kentucky.
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Where can I get more
information on Salmonellosis? |
For more information
online, you can visit the Centers for Disease Control at
http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/.
Or, for more
information on the Health Department’s programs, please call
859.341.4264. |
