Federal public health officials have begun an investigation into an outbreak of Salmonella Thompson infections but have not yet identified a source.
The Food and Drug Administration announced the outbreak yesterday afternoon, saying that 64 people have been confirmed infected so far. The agency did not release any patient information and did not report where the patients live.
The investigation is in the beginning stages so the FDA has not yet begun any traceback efforts. No site inspections have been reported and no environmental or product samples have been tested.
A separate Salmonella Newport outbreak with 11 confirmed patients has been declared over, but FDA’s investigation is ongoing. The agency has not reported any patient information and has not said where the patients live.
FDA investigators continue traceback efforts, as well as on-site inspections and testing. The agency has not reported what food is being traced or what locations are under inspection.
In other outbreak news, the FDA has closed three investigations with no source identified in any of them.
An outbreak of infections from Cryptosporidium sickened 11 people, but the FDA did not report where they lived. The agency initiated traceback efforts but did not report what food it was tracing.
Two outbreaks from the cyclospora parasite have ended, according to the FDA. The agency has closed its investigations of the outbreaks.
One of the outbreaks was first reported on June 14. It sickened 72 people, but the agency did not report where they live. The FDA’s investigators initiated traceback, onsite inspections and testing, but the agency did not reveal what food was being traced, what was being tested, or where the inspections took place.
The other cyclospora outbreak that has been declared over was first reported July 6. It sickened 140 people, but the FDA did not report where they live. The agency’s investigators initiated traceback and testing but did not report what food was being traced or what was being tested.
About Salmonella infections
Food contaminated with Salmonella bacteria does not usually look, smell, or taste spoiled. Anyone can become sick with a Salmonella infection. Infants, children, seniors, and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of serious illness because their immune systems are fragile, according to the CDC.
Anyone who has developed symptoms of Salmonella infection should seek medical attention. Sick people should tell their doctors about the possible exposure to Salmonella bacteria because special tests are necessary to diagnose salmonellosis. Salmonella infection symptoms can mimic other illnesses, frequently leading to misdiagnosis.
Symptoms of Salmonella infection can include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food. Otherwise, healthy adults are usually sick for four to seven days. In some cases, however, diarrhea may be so severe that patients require hospitalization.
Older adults, children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems, such as cancer patients, are more likely to develop a severe illness and serious, sometimes life-threatening conditions.
Some people get infected without getting sick or showing any symptoms. However, they may still spread the infections to others.
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