Hundreds sick in two new Salmonella outbreaks; officials looking for sources - Food Safety News

The FDA is investigating two new Salmonella outbreaks that have sickened more than 200 people. Officials have not identified a source yet.

Traceback efforts on the Salmonella Oranienburg and Salmonella Thompson outbreaks have been initiated according to the Food and Drug Administration. The agency has not reported what specific foods it is investigating in relation to the outbreaks.

The Salmonella Oranienburg outbreak has sickened at least 126 people and the Salmonella Thompson outbreak has sickened at least 77 people, according to a posting today by the FDA.

The FDA has not released any other details, such as the number of states involved, the illness onset dates, or the age ranges of the patients. No food recalls have been initiated in relation to the outbreaks.

As of this afternoon, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has not released any information about the outbreaks.

Salmonella is a reportable disease, meaning any health care providers or other health care entities that receive positive test results on patients must report them to public health officials.

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. 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 and other symptoms 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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