Salmonella Outbreak: 23 Sick In IL, Strain Found In Takeout Box

ILLINOIS — Health officials are investigating a salmonella outbreak that may be tied to takeout food after nearly 300 people were sickened, including 23 people in Illinois. Investigators have not determined a food source behind the illnesses, but said the strain, Salmonella Oranienburg, was found in a restaurant takeout container with lime and cilantro.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 26 people have been hospitalized in connection with the salmonella outbreak, which has hit 29 states. Illinois is among the three states hit hardest by the outbreak, behind Texas (81 cases) and Oklahoma (40 cases).

"State and local officials have collected food items from some of the restaurants where sick people ate," the CDC said. "The outbreak strain of Salmonella Oranienburg was found in a sample taken from a takeout condiment cup containing cilantro and lime. The sick person reported that the condiment container also contained onions, but none were left in the cup when it was tested."

The number of cases has nearly doubled since Sept. 15, when the CDC reported 127 cases of illness. Illnesses were first reported Aug. 3.

Sick people range in age from less than 1 year to 82 years, with a median age of 33, and 59 percent are female. No deaths have been reported.

"Recent illnesses may not yet be reported as it usually takes 3 to 4 weeks to determine if a sick person is part of an outbreak," the CDC said. "The true number of sick people in an outbreak is also likely much higher than the number reported. This is because many people recover without medical care and are not tested for Salmonella."