Chicken Salad Blamed For Salmonella Infections In 7 States

At least 170 people across seven states have been infected in a salmonella outbreak that has been linked to chicken salad that was sold at grocery stores in the midwest, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC said the chicken salad in question was recalled on Feb. 21.

In an update provided on Thursday, the CDC said another 105 people fell ill since the agency first notified the public about the outbreak at the end of February. The newly infected ill people likely bought contaminated chicken salad before the recall was announced, the CDC says.

The salmonella cases have been reported in South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana and Texas. The CDC says the illnesses began between Jan. 8-Feb. 18. No deaths have been reported but 62 people were hospitalized.

Iowa had the most number of cases in the outbreak with 149 illnesses. In Illinois, nine illnesses were reported, five in Nebraska and three in Minnesota. Two cases were reported in South Dakota while just one case was reported in both Texas and Indiana.

The CDC says some illnesses associated with the outbreak may not have been reported yet because it takes an average of two to four weeks between when a person becomes ill and when the illness is reported to the CDC.

Health investigators say 82 percent of the ill people interviewed reported consuming the recalled chicken salad.

The recalled chicken salad was sold at Fareway grocery stores in Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska and South Dakota between Jan. 4 to Feb. 9. You can find more information about the recall here.

Image via CDC