Mysterious Salmonella Outbreak Reaches CA: What To Know

CALIFORNIA — A salmonella outbreak linked to takeout condiment cups has sickened nearly 300 people across the nation. In California, at least five people fell ill, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The strain, Salmonella oranienburg, was found in a sample taken from a restaurant's takeout cup containing cilantro and lime, investigators said. The sick person told officials that the container also had onions.

At least 29 states have reported cases, but the states that have been hardest hit include Texas, with 81 cases; Oklahoma, with 40 cases; and Illinois, with 26 cases. See a map of where people have gotten sick in the U.S.

"State and local officials have collected food items from some of the restaurants where sick people ate," the CDC said.

In neighboring Oregon, just one person tested positive for the illness.

The number of cases has nearly doubled since Sept. 15, when the CDC reported 127 cases of illness. Illnesses were first reported Aug. 3.

Most people recover within a week of the infection, although children younger than 5 and adults 65 and older may experience more severe illness that requires hospitalization.

Sick people ranged in age from less than 1 to 82, with a median age of 33, and 59 percent were female. No deaths were reported, but 26 people were hospitalized across the nation.

Recent illnesses may not yet be reported as it usually takes three to four weeks to determine if a sick person is part of an outbreak, the CDC said. "The true number of sick people in an outbreak is also likely much higher than the number reported. This is because many people recover without medical care and are not tested for Salmonella," the agency added.

The CDC advised those experiencing symptoms to call their health provider if any of these severe salmonella symptoms arise.

• Diarrhea and a fever higher than 102 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Diarrhea for more than that days that does not improve.
• Bloody diarrhea.
• So much vomiting that a person cannot keep liquids down.
• Signs of dehydration, such as the following.
• Not peeing much.
• Dry mouth and throat.
• Feeling dizzy when standing up.

The CDC offered the follwing safety tips to avoid salmonella.

• Clean: Wash hands, utensils and surfaces often. Rinse fruits and vegetables under running water before eating, cutting, or peeling them.
• Separate: Keep food that won’t be cooked separate from raw meat, poultry and seafood.
• Cook: Use a food thermometer to make sure food is cooked to a temperature high enough to kill germs.
• Chill: Refrigerate perishable foods within two hours (within one hour if the food has been exposed to temperatures above 90 degrees, as at a picnic). Thaw food in the refrigerator, not on the counter.

With reporting from Patch correspondents William Bornhoft, Justin Heinze and Shannon Antinori.