Salmonella Outbreak in Georgia

Our lawyers receive numerous calls concernig foodborne illnesses, particularly those contracted in restuarants. Now, Georgia is among the 42 states that have been struck with a salmonella outbreak, with five people taken ill and one requiring hospitalization, according to officials from the state Division of Public Health.
The ages of the Georgians that have become ill range from 7 to 73, and the cases occurred in five different counties. The cases appeared from late October to early December of last year.
A salmonella outbreak has been reported in Georgia. State officials say the cause of the outbreak remains unknown but they are working with the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to identify it. A total of about a dozen people have been hospitalized and about 400 have been sickened by the salmonella outbreak over 42 states. The CDC is leading the investigation but has yet to release a full list of states.
Salmonella is a gram-negative, rod-shaped bacilli that can cause diarrheal illness in humans. They are microscopic living creatures that pass from the feces of people or animals to other people or other animals. Strains that cause no symptoms in animals can make people sick, and vice versa. In food, salmonella does not usually affect the taste, smell, or appearance of the food. The bacteria live in the intestinal tracts of infected animals and humans.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), salmonella sickness causes an estimated 1.4 million cases of foodborne illness and more than 500 deaths annually in the United States. Most people infected by salmonella experience diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 8 to 72 hours after the contaminated food was eaten. Additional symptoms may be chills, headache, nausea, and vomiting. Symptoms usually disappear within 4 to 7 days.
Ohio health officials have reported at least 50 people in 18 counties have been sickened by salmonella bacteria since October. Other states with cases include Minnesota and California.
Any raw food of animal origin, such as meat, poultry, milk and dairy products, eggs, seafood, and some fruits and vegetables may carry salmonella bacteria. The bacteria can survive to cause illness if meat, poultry, and egg products are not cooked to a safe minimum internal temperature as measured with a food thermometer and fruits and vegetables are not thoroughly washed. The bacteria can also contaminate other foods that come in contact with raw meat and poultry.
Safe food handling practices are necessary to prevent bacteria on raw food from causing illness. Officials say steps to protect against the illness include careful handling and preparation of raw meat, and frequent hand washing.