Northeastern Colorado Salmonella Cases Are Being Investigated; 11 Cases Reported In Logan County
The South Platte Sentinel reports that Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CEPHE) and Northeast Colorado Health Department health officials are investigating a cluster of Salmonella infections in northeastern Colorado counties. To date, the source of the Salmonella infections has not been identified.
According to CDPHE communications manager, Deanna Herbert, 17 cases of salmonellosis (Salmonella infection) were reported in northeast Colorado between August 1 and September 17, 2020. Eleven of those illnesses occurred in Logan County. Herbert indicated that typically, fewer than 12 cases of Salmonella are reported in the six northeastern counties during the months of August and September.
“Public health investigates reported Salmonella cases to determine if the cases have common exposures that might indicate that an outbreak is occurring,” Herbert said. “A single common exposure for all of the reported cases in August and September has not been identified and the investigation is ongoing.”
About Salmonella
Salmonella is a type of bacterium that can cause illness in humans. According to the CDC, common symptoms of Salmonella infection can include diarrhea, fever, vomiting, and stomach cramps. Symptoms usually begin six hours to six days after Salmonella infection and last four to seven days. Some people however, do not develop symptoms for several weeks after infection and others experience symptoms for several weeks. Salmonella sometimes causes infection in urine, bones, joints, blood, or the nervous system (spinal fluid and brain), and can cause severe disease.
People can contract Salmonella from a variety of sources including eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water, and touching infected animals, their feces, or their environment.
You can protect yourself and others by practicing good hand washing (especially before eating, when handling raw meat and poultry, and after having contact with animals or their environment), avoiding cross-contamination of fruits and vegetables with raw meat and poultry, washing fruits and vegetables before consuming, and fully cooking meat and poultry products. People who are ill with diarrhea should not prepare food for others, as this could spread bacteria and other pathogens to others.
A Stool Culture May Confirm Salmonella Food Poisoning
If you suspect that you have contracted Salmonella or are experiencing food poisoning symptoms, contact your healthcare professional. He or she can order a stool culture to confirm Salmonella infection. A stool culture can also help link your illness to a specific outbreak and support a food poisoning lawsuit should you wish to seek compensation for your injuries.
Contact Attorney Eric H. Weinberg for a Free Salmonella Lawsuit Evaluation
The Weinberg Law Firm has helped victims of food poisoning outbreaks nationwide. If you or a loved one was diagnosed with Salmonella food poisoning, and you have a question regarding your legal rights you can request a free Food Poisoning Lawsuit Evaluation by calling our law firm toll free at 1-877-934-6274. Our phones are answered 24/7.
Please see Salmonella Onions and Salmonella Peaches to learn about the ongoing recalls and outbreaks linked to these products.