US Hit With Salmonella Outbreak From Ground Beef

The US Centers of Disease Control and Prevention issued a warning of a salmonella outbreak linked to lean ground beef, currently 4 states have been affected by it. No deaths have been reported, but many are left ill and hospitalized.

Investigators are working on identifying the source of the ground beef, however health officials have interviewed fourteen patients. Nine reported it was ground beef purchased from ShopRite in Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey – seven of which mentioned it was 80% lean ground beef.

Meanwhile, the CDC advised individuals to clean equipment and surfaces touched by ground beef – including hands. Next, they should be separated and cooked thoroughly, as well as chilling raw ground beef for one or two days.

Salmonella Outbreak

However, they add that those experiencing severe salmonella symptoms should check with their health provider. In addition, the CDC mentions that individuals should be able to recover within four or seven days without the use of antibiotics.

Additionally, they add that antibiotic resistance has increased in salmonella which severely limits treatment options available to patients – but say that it can be combated by appropriate antibiotic use. The CDC adds some people may not recover from their previous stool habit or develop reactive arthritis.

They note that current data may not be updated as symptoms only appear after three to four weeks. They believe other states could possibly be affected as well, and that some people may have recovered without getting tested for the bacteria.

Current demographics show that a majority (56%) infected are women, while the rest are men. In addition, 19% are under five years old and are 100% white.

The CDC mentions that those with poor immune systems, infants not breastfed, children under five years old, and taking certain medication are more at risk of being infected with it.

Source: CBS News