Wisconsin Salmonella Montevideo Cases Included In Multistate Food Poisoning Outbreak
On January 19, 2018, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) reported that it is working with multiple public health agencies to investigate an outbreak of Salmonella food poisoning cases. The DHS confirmed that five people have been infected with the same genetic strain of Salmonella Montevideo in Wisconsin. All of those persons infected with the same Salmonella strain (also referred to as the outbreak strain) reported eating sprouts at a Jimmy John’s restaurant located in Wisconsin sometime in mid-to-late December. According to the DHS, persons infected with the outbreak strain in other states, also reported eating sprouts at Jimmy John’s locations in their state.
Wisconsin Department of Health Services’ Recommendations
Public health officials are working to identify the source of sprouts linked to the outbreak and to determine if the sprouts were distributed to other locations. In an effort to protect the public, the DHS has requested that Jimmy John’s restaurant locations in Wisconsin remove sprouts from their menu until the investigation is completed. Consumers were also advised to not eat sprouts from Jimmy John’s at this time.
The DHS provided the following health information to the public in its news release:
“Sprouts are a known source of foodborne illness. To reduce the risk of getting sick from sprouts, sprouts should be cooked before consumption, and people should request that raw sprouts not be added to food. Children, older adults, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems should avoid eating raw sprouts of any kind (including alfalfa, clover, radish, and mung bean sprouts). Thoroughly cooking sprouts kills the harmful bacteria. If people have eaten sprouts and become ill with diarrhea and fever, they should call their doctor and local health department.
Symptoms of salmonellosis include diarrhea, vomiting, fever and/or stomach cramps. Illness usually develops within 6 to 72 hours after being exposed to Salmonella bacteria, but can be up to 10 days. Generally illness lasts three to seven days. Some individuals who are infected may have no symptoms at all but may still transmit the Salmonella bacteria to others. The spread of Salmonella from person-to-person may be avoided by careful hand washing with soap and water, particularly after using the restroom.”
Contact The Weinberg Law Firm For Food Poisoning Lawsuit Information
The Weinberg Law Firm is currently assisting victims of restaurant food poisoning, including for example, the Arby’s Salmonella Montevideo outbreak in Valdosta, GA. We are ready to help you too. For more information please call our attorneys toll free at 877-934-6274, or submit the easy-to-use free case evaluation form found on this page.