US federal health authorities have reported a salmonella outbreak that has infected dozens of people across seven western and midwestern states.
The salmonella outbreak is linked to organic brown eggs and non-caged brown eggs distributed between February and May by the August Egg Company, which has since recalled the affected products due to potential contamination.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 79 cases of salmonella infection have been confirmed across the states of Arizona, California, Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Washington, and Wyoming. Twenty-one individuals have been hospitalized.
Symptoms of salmonella infection include diarrhea, fever, severe vomiting, dehydration and abdominal cramps. While most people recover within a week, the infection can pose serious health risks to young children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems, sometimes requiring hospital care.
The symptoms usually last 4 to 7 days and most people get better without treatment, the FDA says. However, in some people, the diarrhea may be so severe that they need to be hospitalized. In these patients, the Salmonella infection may spread from the intestines to the bloodstream, and then to other body sites and can cause death unless the person is treated quickly with antibiotics.
However, the infection can be more serious for young children, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems, who may need hospital care.
The CDC urges consumers to discard any recalled eggs or return them to the place of purchase. Surfaces that came into contact with the eggs should also be washed and disinfected.
