At least 16 people across four states have been sickened in a salmonella outbreak linked to ground beef as of July 24, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The cases were reported in Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Massachusetts. Among those, six people required hospitalization, the CDC stated. Illnesses started on dates ranging from April 27 to June 16.
According to the CDC, the actual number of people affected by the salmonella outbreak could be higher than the reported cases, and the outbreak may extend beyond the states with known illnesses.
“This is because many people recover without medical care and are not tested for salmonella,” the CDC said in a July 25 statement.
“In addition, recent illnesses may not yet be reported as it usually takes three to four weeks to determine if a sick person is part of an outbreak,” it added.
The CDC interviewed 14 patients about the foods they ate in the week before falling ill. Of these, nine reported eating ground beef purchased from ShopRite locations in Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York.
Seven of them specifically reported purchasing 80 percent lean ground beef products, while two others reported purchasing ground beef products from ShopRite but could not recall the type of ground beef.
The CDC said that ground beef is a known source of salmonella illnesses. Salmonella germs live in the intestines of people and animals and can be spread through contaminated food, water, food preparation surfaces, and unwashed hands.
“Salmonella germs are killed when ground beef is cooked to an internal temperature of 160°F [71 degrees Celsius]. Eating raw or under-cooked ground beef can make you sick,” it stated.
The CDC estimates that salmonella bacteria cause about 1.35 million human infections, 26,500 hospitalizations, and 420 deaths annually in the United States. Food is the source for most of these illnesses.
A salmonella outbreak linked to Papa Murphy’s cookie dough spread throughout six states in May after at least 18 illnesses were reported, with two hospitalizations, the CDC announced.
Individuals can contract salmonella in a number of ways, such as by consuming contaminated food, drinking contaminated water, or touching animals that are infected, although salmonella is killed when it is cooked.
Salmonella bacteria are especially difficult to address owing to the wide range of hosts and environments in which they can survive. They are nearly ubiquitous as they can live within birds, reptiles, amphibians, and most household pets. Aside from that, they can survive in frozen, fresh, and even processed goods.
Symptoms of salmonella infections most commonly include diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps. Some people may also experience nausea, vomiting, or headache. Symptoms will begin to appear six hours to six days after infection and last anywhere from four days to a week.
Children younger than 5 years, adults 65 years and older, and people with weakened immune systems may experience severe illnesses that require medical treatment or hospitalization, according to the CDC.
“Most people recover without specific treatment and should not take antibiotics. Antibiotics are typically used only to treat people who have severe illness or who are at risk for it,” it added.
