Salmonella Bacteria Spreads: 23 States Already Affected

Salmonella bacteria is now spreading throughout the states of America amid the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, 23 states had already been affected. 

The CDC or United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced an additional 87 cases of illnesses. Eight new states had been included by the Salmonella outbreak since Tuesday. The source of bacteria has not yet been identified by the CDC, according to USA Today.

Health officials started interviewing those who became sick about the foods they ate, but there has been no specific food source traced as identical cause of the bacteria. 

On Friday update, there were 212 reported cases  while 31 people were hospitalized according to USA Today. The cases span the nation from California to Maine. According to a CDC map, Utah and Oregon are the hardest-hit states. 

CDC advised a person who has the symptoms to contact their healthcare provider and fill up a form that will indicate the food he ate the week before he became sick. Symptoms of Salmonella infection include fever, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps. An infected person could have a weakened immune system. Children younger than five years old, and adults older than 65 are more likely to have severe cases. Within the 6 hours to six days of being exposed to Salmonella bacteria, people can be sick.

Salmonella may scatter from the intestines to the bloodstream and other parts of the body. However, most people recover even without treatment, but rare cases of the infection can cause death. Salmonella infection may last up to seven days.

In the previous report of Detroit Free Press, CDC described the infection as "rapidly growing." Here are the things you should know about Salmonella infection according to CDC:

1. Salmonella bacteria may spread from the intestines to the bloodstream then to other parts of the body. 
2. Most infected people can recover within four to seven days without treatment, but rare cases of Salmonella infection can cause death unless treated with proper antibiotics.
3. The symptoms may show up within 6 hours to six days after the exposure from the bacteria.
4. Severe illness may target infected persons whose ages are younger than five or adults older than 65.

The Detroit Free Press also shared CDC's advice to help prevent Salmonella infections. Here are the instructions:

• Separate uncooked foods such as deli meats or fresh fruit away from raw poultry, seafood, or meat. 
• Cook the foods you will prepare to a temperature high enough to kill germs. Remember that porks, lamb, and ground beef should be cook to a temperature of at least 160 degrees while poultry products must have at least 165 degrees of temperature when cooking.
• Chill the perishable foods within 2 hours.
• Wash your hands and the surfaces where you are putting your foods on. Wash the fruits and vegetables before peeling, cutting, or eating.

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