How long can you have salmonella

There is no sufficient data on how long you can be a carrier.

One to four percent of untreated patients become chronic carriers, defined as individuals who excrete Salmonella for more than 1 year. Some individuals may continue to excrete the bacterium for decades.

So even if your symptoms seem to go away, you may still be carrying S. Typhi . If so, the illness could return, or you could pass the disease to other people.

If you are being treated for typhoid fever, it is important to do the following:

Keep taking the prescribed antibiotics for as long as the doctor has asked you to take them.

Wash your hands carefully with soap and water after using the bathroom, and do not prepare or serve food for other people. This will lower the chance that you will pass the infection on to someone else.

Have your doctor perform a series of stool cultures to ensure that no S. Typhi bacteria remain in your body.

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Salmonellosis is a type of food poisoning caused by the salmonella bacterium. There are many different kinds of these bacteria; Salmonella typhimurium and Salmonella enteritidis are the most common types in the United States.

Every year, approximately 40,000 cases of salmonellosis are reported in the U.S. Because many milder cases are not diagnosed or reported, the actual number of infections may be 30 or more times greater.1 Salmonellosis is more common in the summer than winter. Children are the most likely to get salmonellosis; young children, older adults, and people with impaired immune systems are the most likely to have severe infections.

What causes salmonellosis?

You can get salmonellosis by eating food contaminated with salmonella. This can happen in the following ways:

Food may be contaminated during food processing or food handling.

Food may become contaminated by the unwashed hands of an infected food handler. A frequent cause is a food handler who does not wash his or her hands with soap after using the bathroom.

Salmonella may also be found in the feces of some pets, especially those with diarrhea. You can become infected if you do not wash your hands after contact with these feces.

Reptiles, baby chicks and ducklings, and small rodents such as hamsters are particularly likely to carry salmonella. You should always wash your hands immediately after handling one of these animals, even if the animal is healthy. Adults should also be careful that children wash their hands after handling reptiles, baby chicks or ducklings, or small rodents.

Beef, poultry, milk, and eggs are most often infected with salmonella. However, vegetables may also be contaminated. Contaminated foods usually look and smell normal.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of salmonellosis include diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. They develop 12 to 72 hours after infection, and the illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days. Most people recover without treatment. However, diarrhea and dehydration may be so severe that it is necessary to go to the hospital. Older adults, infants, and those with impaired immune systems are at highest risk.

If you only have diarrhea, you usually recover completely, although it may be several months before your bowel habits are entirely normal. A small number of people who are infected with salmonellosis develop Reiter's syndrome, a disease that can last for months or years and can lead to chronic arthritis.

How is salmonellosis diagnosed?

Salmonellosis is diagnosed based on a medical history and physical exam. Your health professional will ask you questions about your symptoms, foods you have recently eaten, and your work and home environments. A stool culture and blood tests may be done to confirm the diagnosis.

You treat salmonellosis by managing any complications until it passes. Dehydration caused by diarrhea is the most common complication. Antibiotics are not usually needed unless the infection has spread.

To prevent dehydration, take frequent sips of a rehydration drink (such as Lytren, Rehydralyte, or Pedialyte). Try to drink a cup of water or rehydration drink for each large, loose stool you have. Sports drinks, soda pop, and fruit juice contain too much sugar and not enough of the important electrolytes that are lost during diarrhea and should only be taken alternately with a rehydration drink.

Try to stick to your normal diet as much as possible. Eating your usual diet will help you to get enough nutrition. Doctors believe that eating a normal diet will also help you feel better faster. But try to avoid foods that are high in fat and sugar. Also avoid spicy foods, alcohol, and coffee for 2 days after all symptoms have disappeared.

How can I prevent salmonellosis?

To prevent salmonellosis:

Do not eat raw or undercooked eggs. Raw eggs may be used in some foods such as homemade hollandaise sauce, Caesar and other salad dressings, tiramisu, homemade ice cream, homemade mayonnaise, cookie dough, and frostings.

Cook foods until they are well done. Use a meat thermometer to be sure foods are cooked to a safe temperature. Do not use the color of the meat (such as when it is no longer "pink") to tell you that it is done.

Avoid raw or unpasteurized milk or other dairy products.

Wash or peel produce before eating it.

Avoid cross-contamination of food. Keep uncooked meats separate from produce, cooked foods, and ready-to-eat foods. Thoroughly wash hands, cutting boards, counters, knives, and other utensils after handling uncooked foods.

Wash your hands before handling any food and between handling different food items.

Do not prepare food or pour water for others when you have salmonellosis.

Wash your hands after contact with animal feces. Since reptiles are particularly likely to carry salmonella bacteria, wash your hands immediately after handling them. Consider not having reptiles (including turtles) as pets, especially if you have small children or an infant

Salmonella is a type of bacteria that’s infamously spread by eating food infected with the bacteria.

Salmonella infections are highly contagious. They’re also known as salmonellosis. A person, animal, or object carrying the bacteria can all expose you to salmonellosis.

Symptoms of salmonellosis can include:

• losing your appetite
• diarrhea
• cramps in your abdomen
• severe headaches
• chills
• fever
• feeling nauseous
• throwing up
• blood in your poop

Salmonella bacteria cause infections via fecal-oral transmission. This happens when food, water, or objects carrying bacteria from poop, either human or animal, come into contact with your mouth.

Eating raw or undercooked meat is the most common way Salmonella is spread. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that 94 percent of salmonellosis cases result from food. This includes:

Raw meat can carry fecal bacteria that was present on the animal before it was slaughtered. Eggs from a contaminated bird can also carry Salmonella bacteria. Eating raw eggs in particular increases the risk of Salmonella infection.

Unwashed fruits and vegetables can carry fecal bacteria as well. Bacteria can infect fruits and vegetables through fertilizer or contaminated water. Bacteria can also come from the waste of animals close to where the fruits or vegetables were grown.

Some animals can also carry Salmonella bacteria, such as:

• lizards
• turtles
• iguanas
• baby chickens
• hamsters
• gerbils
• pet or wild dogs
• domestic or feral cats

Salmonellosis is very contagious. It can be spread by someone who’s contracted it even if they aren’t showing any symptoms or have undergone successful antibiotic treatment.

Sharing saliva or mouth-to-mouth contact with someone who’s carrying the bacteria can transmit them. Kissing and sexual activities that expose you to fecal bacteria, such as anal sex, can all make you vulnerable to contracting the bacteria, too.

Sharing items that carry the bacteria can also transmit them, including:

• utensils, like forks or spoons
• straws
• cups
• water bottles
• lip balm
• lipstick
• cigarettes
• cigars
• pipes

Putting an object in your mouth that was touched by someone with an active infection can also spread salmonellosis.

Salmonellosis symptoms usually last for about four to seven days. A person can still transmit the bacteria for several weeks after symptoms fade, and even several months later.

The North Dakota Department of Health notes about 1 percent of adults and 5 percent of babies who contract Salmonella still have traces of the bacteria in their stool for a year or longer.

Most Salmonella bacteria live on dry surfaces for up to four hours before they’re no longer infectious. But Salmonella’s survival rate also depends on its species. A 2003 study found that Salmonella enteritidis can survive for four days in high enough amounts to still lead to illness.

You typically carry Salmonella bacteria in your body for 12 to 72 hours before you show symptoms. Some bacteria may not cause symptoms for months.

Once salmonellosis takes hold, you’ll start experiencing symptoms rather suddenly.

The best way to prevent salmonellosis is by taking measures to minimize your exposure to Salmonella bacteria. Do the following to keep yourself from contracting the bacteria. These tips will also avoid transmitting salmonellosis to others if you already have it:

• Don’t share anything with someone who has salmonellosis. Also, don’t share anything of yours that touches your hands or mouth when you have it.
• Don’t kiss or have sex if you or the other person has contracted the bacteria.
• Avoid sharing anything that’s touched your mouth with anyone else until you’re certain you’re no longer carrying the bacteria.
• Wash your hands immediately after handling animals like reptiles, amphibians, livestock like cows and horses, and both feral and pet animals.
• Clean any surface that’s come into contact with raw meat or other raw foods that may carry bacteria.
• Wash your hands thoroughly before and after touching raw meat or unwashed fruits and vegetables.
• Don’t drink any raw, unpasteurized, or unpurified liquids, especially milk and water.
• Cook meat, eggs, and other animal productsthoroughly to kill bacteria through heat.
• Refrigerate foods immediately after purchasing or preparing them.
• Check for food recall notices regularly at your local grocery stores. The websites for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control also provide recall information.
• Throw away any food or dump any water that you suspect may be contaminated.

Salmonella is highly contagious. Avoid kissing, touching, and sexual activity until you’re fully clear of the bacteria.

Seek emergency medical attention if you start experiencing symptoms of salmonellosis. Keep seeing your doctor regularly after your symptoms have faded to test for the presence of the bacteria until they’re gone.

Salmonella is one of the most common causes of food poisoning in the United States. Each year, salmonella infections, called salmonellosis, sicken more than 1 million people. Up to 450 die from salmonella poisoning annually.

The common bacteria “can live in many animals, such as livestock, pets, reptiles, and sometimes humans,” says Alan Taege, MD, an infectious diseases specialist at the Cleveland Clinic.

Salmonella can be found in the intestines of animals, especially pigs and poultry, and it is spread through their feces. For example, if contaminated feces get into the water that’s used to irrigate crops, those crops can carry the bacteria to the market. Raw poultry can sometimes be contaminated with the bacteria. It can be spread throughout your kitchen if you don’t wash your hands, cutting board, and any knives or other utensils after you handle raw poultry.

What foods are most likely to become contaminated with salmonella?

Any raw or undercooked animal product can carry salmonella. That includes meat, unpasteurized dairy products like milk and cheese, eggs, and seafood. Fruits, vegetables, and nuts also can become contaminated with salmonella. In recentВ years, the CDC has reported outbreaks associated with particular brands of alfalfa sprouts, pistachios, nut butters, and cucumbers.

How do I know if a food has been contaminated with salmonella, and where can I find a list of recalled products?

You can’t spot salmonella by looking at or smelling food. However, you can keep up to date on reported outbreaks if you are concerned that your food may be contaminated. The CDC and the FDA have information about ongoing and recent outbreaks, including which products consumers should avoid.

What pets can carry salmonella?

Turtles, frogs, lizards, and other reptiles and amphibians often carry salmonella. Because they spread the bacteria through their feces, you can become infected by handling them or cleaning up after them. The same goes for backyard chickens, another common carrier of salmonella. Such pets will not show signs that they have the bacteria, so it’s best to be cautious and act as if they do. Always thoroughly wash your hands after coming into contact with or cleaning up after any potential carriers. Don’t allow them into your kitchen or any rooms where food is stored, prepared, or served.

Salmonella can sicken pets such as cats and dogs, so avoid feeding them raw foods.

Who investigates a salmonella outbreak?

Local government health agencies investigate outbreaks in their areas, such as those traced to a particular restaurant. At the federal level, the CDC and the FDA investigate salmonella outbreaks. The CDC monitors reports of foodborne illness in order to identify outbreaks. Once an outbreak has been declared, the agency traces where it started and alerts the public.

The FDA also keeps tabs on signals that might indicate an outbreak. When one occurs, they coordinate recalls of tainted products in order to stop it. When the outbreak ends, the FDA examines its causes and works on ways to prevent future outbreaks.

What are the symptoms of salmonella poisoning?

“Some people may merely carry the organism in the digestive tract and not be ill, but typically it will cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea -- sometimes with fever,” says Taege.

Other symptoms may include headache, abdominal cramps, and loss of appetite. These symptoms usually start within 12 to 72 hours after infection. They last for 4 to 7 days. However, it can take several months for bowel habits to return to normal. In rare cases, salmonella also can cause reactive arthritis, a type of joint pain that can last months or years and eventually may result in chronic arthritis.

How is salmonella treated?

Usually, salmonella poisoning goes away on its own, without treatment. Drink plenty of fluids in order to stay hydrated if you have diarrhea.

Still, Taege recommends that you call your doctor to talk about your symptoms if you suspect you ate contaminated food. “The bacteria may occasionally enter the bloodstream and cause a more serious infection, he says.

Signs that you should seek medical attention include:

• You remain ill after more than 7 days
• You have severe or bloody diarrhea
• You have a fever of 101.5 F or higher for more than a day

You should also consult a doctor if you are over 65 or have a weakened immune system due to illness, because you may be at risk of more severe symptoms. Children under the age of 5 are also at risk of severe infection. Such cases, as well as those with severe complications, often require antibiotics and, possibly, hospitalization.

Can you die from salmonella?

Salmonella is rarely fatal, but if the bacteria enters your bloodstream, it can be life-threatening, especially for people with weakened immune systems, such as the elderly, the very young, and those with diseases like cancer and HIV/AIDS.

Can you prevent salmonella?

You can protect yourself against salmonella poisoning in several ways.

• Thoroughly cook poultry, ground beef, and eggs. This kills the bacteria.
• Avoid foods that contain raw eggs or unpasteurized milk.
• Wash your hands, cutting boards and other work surfaces, and knives and other utensils with soap and water right after prepping raw meat or poultry.
• Don’t let raw meat or poultry come into contact with other foods, especially those that don’t require cooking (for example, lettuce, tomatoes, and other raw salad ingredients.

Because salmonella bacteria grow and multiply at room temperature, foods should not be left out of the fridge for more than 2 hours. Lost track of time? “If you believe food has been left out too long, it is best to discard and avoid eating it,” Taege advises.

Can you get salmonella from drinking water?

Yes, you can get salmonella poisoning if you drink contaminated water. For example, it can get into private wells in infected feces from sewage overflows or faulty sewage systems. Polluted storm water and agricultural runoff can also contaminate drinking water. In 2008, for example, water contaminated with salmonella sickened nearly 450 people in Alamosa, CO. One person died.

Can you get salmonella from another person?

Salmonella poisoning can be passed from person to person. If you are infected with salmonella and don’t wash your hands thoroughly after a bowel movement, your dirty hands can pass salmonella along in several ways, including: direct contact with another person, touching a surface that someone else then touches, and preparing food that is served raw or undercooked.

Alan Taege, MD, infectious diseases specialist, Cleveland Clinic.

Elizabeth Scott, PhD, associate professor of biology, co-director of the Center for Hygiene and Health, Simmons College.

CDC: “CDC's Role During Investigations of Multistate Outbreaks Linked to Food or Animal Contact;” “Diseases and Contaminants;” “Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium Infections Linked to Peanut Butter, 2008-2009 (FINAL UPDATE);” “Prevention;” “Reports of Selected Salmonella Outbreak Investigations;” and “Take Care with Pet Reptiles;” and “What Is Salmonellosis?”

Cleveland Clinic: “Salmonella.”

Colorado.gov: “Salmonella Outbreak in Alamosa, Colorado, March and April 2008: Executive Summary.”

FDA: “BBB – Salmonella spp;” “FDA’s Advice: Know the Risks of Feeding Raw Foods to Your Pets;” and “Outbreak Investigations.”

Foodsafety.gov: “Sneaky Salmonella: It’s Common, Costly, and Preventable.”

Uptodate.com: “Nontyphoidal Salmonella bacteremia.”

Vermont Department of Health: “Salmonella.”

Salmonella is a kind of bacteria, with many different types. The type responsible for most infections in humans is carried by chickens, cows, pigs, and reptiles (such as turtles, lizards, and iguanas). Another, rarer form — called Salmonella typhi — causes typhoid fever.

Salmonella infection, or salmonellosis, is a foodborne illness caused by infection with Salmonella bacteria. Most infections spread to people through contaminated food (usually meat, poultry, eggs, or milk).

A Salmonella infection typically causes:

Because many different kinds of illnesses can cause these symptoms, most doctors will take a stool sample to make an accurate diagnosis.

Salmonella infections usually clear up without medical treatment.

Salmonella bacteria are often found in the feces (poop) of some animals, particularly reptiles. People who have these animals as pets can get salmonellosis if they handle the reptiles and get the bacteria on their hands.

Salmonella can spread to people in foods contaminated by infected animal feces. This can happen when foods such as poultry, eggs, and beef are not cooked enough. Fruit and vegetables can also be contaminated from feces in the soil or water where they're grown.

Yes. People with salmonellosis can spread the infection from several days to several weeks after they've been infected — even if their symptoms have disappeared or they've been treated with antibiotics.

Not everyone who ingests Salmonella bacteria will become ill. Children, especially infants, are most likely to get sick from it. About 50,000 cases of salmonellosis are reported in the United States each year and about one third of those are in kids 4 years old or younger.

People at risk for more serious complications from a Salmonella infection include those who:

• are very young, especially babies
• have problems with their immune systems (such as people with HIV)
• take cancer-fighting drugs or drugs that affect their immune system
• have sickle cell disease
• have an absent or nonfunctioning spleen
• take chronic stomach acid suppression medicine

In these higher-risk groups, most doctors will treat an infection with antibiotics to prevent it from spreading to other parts of the body. Antibiotics do not appear to help a healthy person whose infection is not severe — and may actually lengthen the amount of time the person will carry the bacteria.

Because many different illnesses can cause similar symptoms (such as nausea, fever, cramping, and diarrhea), doctors may send a stool (poop) sample to the lab for testing.

A severe Salmonella infection will require more testing to see which specific germ is causing the illness and which antibiotics can be used to treat it.

If your child has salmonellosis and a healthy immune system, your doctor may let the infection pass without giving any medicines. But any time a child develops a fever, headache, or bloody diarrhea, call the doctor to rule out any other problems.

If your child is infected and has a fever, you may want to give acetaminophen to lower the temperature and relieve cramping. As with any infection that causes diarrhea, it's important to give your child plenty of liquids to avoid dehydration.

Salmonellosis symptoms can take from 6 to 72 hours to start after someone ingests the bacteria. In most people, the illness lasts for 4 to 7 days after symptoms begin.

Hand washing is a powerful way to guard against Salmonella infections. So teach kids to wash their hands well and often, particularly after trips to the bathroom and before handling food.

Here are some other ways to protect your family from Salmonella infections:

• Cook food thoroughly.Salmonella bacteria are most commonly found in animal products and can be killed by the heat of cooking. Don't serve raw or undercooked eggs, poultry, or meat. Microwaving is not a reliable way to kill the bacteria. If you're pregnant, be especially careful to avoid undercooked foods.
• Handle eggs carefully. Because Salmonella bacteria can contaminate even intact and disinfected grade A eggs, cook them well and avoid serving poached or sunny-side up eggs (with runny yolks).
• Avoid foods that might contain raw ingredients. Caesar salad dressing, the Italian dessert tiramisu, homemade ice cream, chocolate mousse, eggnog, cookie dough, and frostings can contain raw eggs. Unpasteurized milk and juices also can be contaminated with Salmonella.
• Clean cooking surfaces regularly. Keep uncooked meats away from cooked and ready-to-eat foods. Thoroughly wash your hands, cutting boards, counters, and knives after handling uncooked foods.
• Take care with pets. Avoid contact with the feces of family pets — especially reptiles. Wash your hands well after handling an animal and make sure that no reptiles are permitted to come into contact with a baby. Even healthy reptiles (especially turtles and iguanas) are not safe pets for small children and should not be in the same house as an infant.
• Don't cook food for others if you are sick, especially if you have vomiting or diarrhea.
• Keep food chilled. Don't leave cooked food out for more than 2 hours after serving (1 hour on a hot day) and store it promptly. Also, keep your refrigerator set to under 40°F (4.4°C).

If you’ve shopped at a grocery store in Iowa recently, don’t opt for scrambled eggs for breakfast — or any meal. An Iowa egg producer has issued a recall for 228 million eggs after a suspected link to an outbreak of salmonella poisoning. The potentially life-threatening condition is more common than you may realize, making it even more important to know how to recognize the signs of salmonella.

Tainted eggs have sickened several hundred Californians and some people in Minnesota, health officials recently reported, and the Food and Drug Administration is investigating. No one should take any chances because salmonella can be life-threatening, especially to people with weakened immune systems. Here are some important facts to know about salmonella.

Who is at highest risk for salmonella poisoning?

People with impaired immune systems should be more careful, as should the elderly and infants. People in these groups are less able to fight off the infection, so it can spread from the intestines to the bloodstream, and then to other body sites. Salmonella poisoning is serious and can be fatal unless the person is treated promptly with antibiotics. While you shouldn’t stop eating out at restaurants or enjoying Eggs Benedict at home, it’s crucial to know the symptoms of salmonella and take precautions.

Common signs of salmonella

• fever
• abdominal cramps
• diarrhea

These symptoms start 12 to 72 hours after consuming a contaminated food or beverage, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

How long will salmonella poisoning last?

The illness usually lasts four to seven days. Most people recover without antibiotic treatment. When the diarrhea is severe, however, you can get dehydrated and become ill enough to require hospitalization.

Food safety tips to avoid salmonella poisoning

Don’t swear off eggs, an economical source of nutrition and great for a fast meal fix. But there are precautions you should take to stay safe from salmonella poisoning.

• Keep eggs refrigerated at at all times.
• Discard cracked or dirty eggs.
• Wash hands, cooking utensils and food preparation surfaces with soap and water after contact with raw eggs.
• Eggs should be cooked until both the white and the yolk are firm, then eaten promptly after cooking.
• Do not keep eggs warm or at room temperature for more than two hours.
• Promptly refrigerate unused or leftover egg-containing foods.
• Avoid eating raw eggs.
• Avoid restaurant dishes made with raw or undercooked, unpasteurized eggs. Restaurants should use pasteurized eggs in any recipe (such as Hollandaise sauce or Caesar salad dressing) that calls for raw eggs.

Do your eggs have salmonella?

The eggs which may be infected with salmonella are produced by Wright County Egg and sold in retail stores under a variety of brand names.

• Albertson
• Boomsma’s
• Dutch Farms
• Farm Fresh
• Hillandale
• Kemps
• Lucerne
• Lund
• Mountain Dairy
• Ralph’s
• Shoreland
• Sunshine
• Trafficanda

Eggs are packed in 6-egg, dozen egg, and 18-egg cartons with Julian dates ranging from 136 to 225 and plant numbers 1026, 1413 and 1946. Dates and codes can be found stamped on the end of the egg carton. The plant number begins with the letter P and then the number. The Julian date follows the plant number, for example: P-1946 223. If you have potentially contaminated eggs, do not eat them. Take the eggs back to the store from which you bought them and ask for a full refund.

Consumption of raw or undercooked eggs should be avoided, especially by young children, elderly persons and persons with weakened immune systems or debilitating illness. If you experience any signs of salmonella poisoning, see a medical professional immediately.

What to know about one of the most common food safety risks in the United States

Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (Photo: Courtesy image)

A mass outbreak of salmonella poisoning in Caldwell Parish that has sickened hundreds is under investigation by the Louisiana Department of Health.

Learn more about the infection and what you can do to stay safe below.

What is salmonella?

Salmonella is a bacterial infection that generally affects the intestinal tract and, occasionally, the bloodstream.

How long does it take to get ill with salmonella? How long will you be sick?

Symptoms develop six to 72 hours after eating food containing the bacteria, and the illness can last between four and seven days.

Most people recover without treatment. However, in some people the diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized. Older adults, infants, and those who have impaired immune systems are at highest risk.

What are the symptoms?

Per an LDH release, symptoms of salmonella poisoning include diarrhea, abdominal pain and fever.

Can salmonella be deadly?

It can be. Every year, salmonella is estimated to cause 1 million food-borne illnesses in the United States with 19,000 hospitalizations and 380 deaths.

Did LDH send workers to Caldwell Parish? What do they do on the ground?

LDH’s infectious diseases epidemiology and sanitarian services teams are on the ground investigating the outbreak. They are interviewing people who ate the food and those who are ill, collecting samples when appropriate and providing education. Sanitarians are also interviewing food handlers and investigating where the food was prepared and purchased or donated.

How do you get salmonella?

Salmonella is spread by eating or drinking contaminated food or water or by contact with infected animals or people. The most frequent sources are poultry, eggs, meat and dairy products. Up to 90 percent of salmonella infections in the U.S. are food-borne, according to the Louisiana Department of Health.

If you live with someone who is sick, but you didn’t eat the food do you need to take additional precautions?

Salmonella is rarely spread from person to person. It is a good reminder to practice proper hand-washing hygiene. If you are concerned, consult with your physician.

When should I contact my doctor?

The CDC suggests contacting your doctor or health care provider if you have:

• Diarrhea and a fever over 101.5 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Diarrhea for more than three days that is not improving.
• Bloody stools.
• Prolonged vomiting that prevents you from keeping liquids down.
• Signs of dehydration, such as: making very little urine, dry mouth and throat, dizziness when standing up.

Do infected people need to be isolated or skip work or school?

Per a Louisiana Department of Health Publication, only people with active diarrhea should be excluded from school or day care. Most infected people can return to work or school after the diarrhea phase provided they carefully wash their hands after toilet visits. LDH advises special consideration must be given to food handlers, health care workers and children in daycare.

How does the LDH investigate an outbreak?

A disease surveillance specialist looks into the outbreak, according to Dr. David Holcombe, public health medical director for the Alexandria area. Stool samples are collected and tested to isolate the organism responsible.

What is the treatment?

Most people with salmonella recover on their own or require fluids to prevent dehydration.

How can salmonella be prevented?

• Always treat raw poultry, beef and pork as if they are contaminated and handle accordingly.
• Wrap fresh meat in plastic bags at the market to prevent blood from dripping on other foods.
• Refrigerate foods promptly and minimize holding foods at room temperature.
• Wash cutting boards and counters used for food preparation immediately after use to prevent cross contamination with other foods.
• Avoid eating raw or undercooked meats.
• Ensure that the correct internal cooking temperature is reached, particularly when using the microwave.
• Encourage careful hand washing before and after food preparation.