Salmonella

Salmonellosis is an infection with bacteria called Salmonella.  There are over 5,000 cases of Salmonella reported in Florida every year.  Nearly half of these patients are children less than 5 years of age.   

Most persons infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most persons recover without treatment. However, in some persons, the diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized. In these patients, the Salmonella infection may spread from the intestines to the blood stream, and then to other body sites and can cause death unless the person is treated promptly with antibiotics. The elderly, infants, and those with impaired immune systems are more likely to have a severe illness. 

There is no vaccine to prevent salmonellosis. Because foods of animal origin may be contaminated with Salmonella, people should not eat raw or undercooked eggs, poultry, or meat. Raw eggs may be unrecognized in some foods, such as homemade Hollandaise sauce, Caesar and other homemade salad dressings, tiramisu, homemade ice cream, homemade mayonnaise, cookie dough, and frostings. Poultry and meat, including hamburgers, should be well-cooked, not pink in the middle. Persons also should not consume raw or unpasteurized milk or other dairy products. Produce should be thoroughly washed.   Hand washing is always recommended after handling animals or touching their environments (cages, food & water dishese, etc.) as Salmonella can be acquired through direct contact with live animals or their feces (see Chicks & Ducklings, Reptile sections below).   Particular care should be taken when handling animals having diarrhea.  However even healthy appearing animals can shed Salmonella, especially reptiles and birds.

Cross-contamination of foods should be avoided. Uncooked meats should be kept separate from produce, cooked foods, and ready-to-eat foods. Hands, cutting boards, counters, knives, and other utensils should be washed thoroughly after touching uncooked foods. Hand should be washed before handling food, and between handling different food items.  People who have salmonellosis should not prepare food or pour water for others until their diarrhea has resolved.  Many health departments require that restaurant workers with Salmonella infection have a stool test showing that they are no longer carrying the Salmonella bacterium before they return to work.

United States Department of Agriculture Be Food Safe Resources - Brochure (PDF 661 KB)  En Español (PDF 661 KB)  Activity Book (PDF 3.9 MB)

Salmonella and Baby Chicks and Ducklings

Salmonella carried in the intestines of chicks and ducklings contaminates their environment and the entire surface of the animal. Children can be exposed to the bacteria by simply holding, cuddling, or kissing the birds. Children should not handle baby chicks or other young birds.  Everyone should immediately wash their hands after touching birds, including baby chicks and ducklings, or their environment (cages, water and food dishes, etc.).  Multiple Salmonella outbreaks have been traced to contact with live poultry, most recently including a multi-state outbreak in 2008.

Staying Safe Around Chicks - Poster (PDF 2.98MB)

Staying Safe Around Chicks - Stickers (PDF 3.08MB)

Centers for Disease Control (CDC) http://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/easter_chicks.htm

Washington State Department of Health http://www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/ts/Zoo/salmonellachick.html

Multistate Outbreaks of Salmonella Infections Associated with Live Poultry (MMWR) http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5802a1.htm

Salmonella and Reptiles

Because reptiles (turtles, snakes, lizards, etc.) and amphibians (frogs, toads, etc.) are particularly likely to have Salmonella and it can contaminate their skin, everyone should immediately wash their hands after handling reptiles and amphibians,  their cages, food and water dishes, or other items that have been in direct contact with the animal. Reptiles (including turtles) and amphibians are not appropriate pets for small children and can pose an environmental health threat to infants even if the animal is not in direct contact with the child.  

Pet Turtles - An Alert for Parents (PDF 153KB)

Regulations Regarding the Sale of Turtles (PDF 24KB)

CDC - Diseases from Reptiles http://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/animals/reptiles.htm

CDC - Reptiles, Amphibians, and Salmonella http://www.cdc.gov/Features/SalmonellaFrogTurtle/

Salmonella Bacteria and Reptiles (PDF 9 KB)

Resources

Centers for Disease Control http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/
Provides general information about salmonella and information on current outbreaks

This page was updated on June 4, 2010