Salmonella

Food Borne Illness (Salmonella)
Ebony Robertson
SCI/163
April 3, 2012
Gina Readore

Food Borne Illness (Salmonella)

Many Americans become sick because of food borne illnesses.   The most common and oldest, dating back over 100 years, food borne illness that affects the body is known as Salmonella.   Salmonella is a bacterial disease that affects the intestinal tract of the body.   There are more than 500 deaths reported a year in the United States caused by salmonella and over 1.4 million cases.   Salmonella counts for 31% of food related deaths each year. Salmonella is contagious but is treatable and is preventable (Clinic Staff, 2011).
      Eating raw meat, egg products, or poultry usually causes salmonella infection, also known as Salmonellosis. The bacteria lives in the intestines and are shed through the feces of animals and humans.   Foods become contaminated when prepared by individuals who do not thoroughly wash their hands after changing a diaper or using the toilet.   It can take several hours up to two days to know that salmonellosis has infected the body.   Signs and symptoms of salmonella include: nausea, diarrhea, headaches, blood in stool, stomach pains, vomiting, fever, and chills (Clinic Staff, 2011).   These signs and symptoms last for approximately four to seven days and may take months for bowels to return normal.   Medications, such as antibiotics, can treat Salmonella but hospitalization is needed for much severe cases.
      In 2012, Oklahoma confirmed that an outbreak of Salmonella was from the food chain Taco Bell.   This outbreak affected 68 people across the United States.   Oklahoma listed 16 people who fell ill to Salmonella in which eight informed officials that they recently ate at Taco Bell.   The worst affected state was Texas, which saw 43 cases, whereas eight other states had one or two cases (Gye, 2012).   The contamination occurred to products before reaching Taco Bell and no deaths were linked to this outbreak.   It is still... [continues]

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