Mysterious Salmonella Outbreak Strikes NJ: What We Know

NEW JERSEY — A salmonella outbreak potentially linked to fast food containers has sickened nearly 300 individuals across the country, including several New Jerseyans. While investigators yet to determine a food source behind the illnesses, officials say the strain, Salmonella Oranienburg, was found in a restaurant takeout container with lime and cilantro.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that at least four people in New Jersey have been hospitalized in connection with the salmonella outbreak, which has hit 29 states since August. The states that have been hardest hit include Texas (81 cases), Oklahoma (40) and Illinois (26).

"State and local officials have collected food items from some of the restaurants where sick people ate," the CDC said. "The outbreak strain of Salmonella Oranienburg was found in a sample taken from a takeout condiment cup containing cilantro and lime. The sick person reported that the condiment container also contained onions, but none were left in the cup when it was tested."

Nearby, Pennsylvania (4), New York (2), and Maryland (9) have also seen cases. People infected with Salmonella often experience diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps sometime between 6 hours to 6 days after swallowing the bacteria.

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 years and adults 65 years and older may experience more severe illnesses that require hospitalization.

Sick people range in age from less than 1 year to 82 years, with a median age of 33, and 59 percent are female. No deaths have been reported.

"Recent illnesses may not yet be reported as it usually takes 3 to 4 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."

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