8 Salmonella Cases In WI In Multistate Outbreak

WISCONSIN — Eight people who live in Wisconsin were affected by a salmonella outbreak that spread across multiple states, federal health officials said Thursday.

Some 279 people across 29 states were affected by a salmonella outbreak from an unknown source, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

Federal investigators haven't found a food linked to the illnesses yet. But officials found a strain of salmonella in a takeout condiment cup containing cilantro and lime. A sick person reported that onions were inside of the cup as well, but they weren't inside of the cup when it was tested.

"Because multiple food items were present in the container and in the sample that was tested, it is not possible to know which food item was contaminated," the agency said. "We are using this information in conjunction with other available information to help narrow the list of possible foods linked to illness."

People who experience symptoms should contact their doctors and report their illness immediately, the agency said.

People who were sickened in the outbreak ranged in age from 1 to 89, with a median age of 35. Fifty-nine percent of people who were sickened were female.

The true number of sick people is likely much higher than the number reported because many people recover without medical care and aren't tested for salmonella, health officials said.

Recent illnesses may not yet be reported because it takes three to four weeks to determine if a sick person was part of an outbreak, officials added.

Call your doctor if you experience salmonella symptoms, including the following.

• A fever higher than 102 degrees.
• Diarrhea, including bloody diarrhea or diarrhea that has continued for more than three days.
• Vomiting.
• Signs of dehydration, such as not urinating, dry mouth and throat, feeling dizzy when standing up.

Most people infected with salmonella experience diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps within six hours to six days of eating contaminated food.

Investigators linked uncured Italian-style meats such as salami and prosciutto to a salmonella outbreak in August.

See Also: Multistate Salmonella Outbreak Affects Wisconsin