Raw Turkey Triggers Nationwide Salmonella Outbreak: CDC

For the second time in a week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a nationwide warning regarding a salmonella outbreak. This one is linked to raw turkey and has sickened 90 people in 26 states - including five from Pennsylvania.

While no deaths have been reported, 40 people have been hospitalized. What’s particularly unnerving is that epidemiologic and lab evidence indicates that raw turkey products from a variety of sources are contaminated with salmonella and are making people sick.

The CDC is not advising the consumers avoid eating properly cooked turkey products or that retailers stop selling raw turkey products. But the CDC is recommending:

• Cooking raw turkey thoroughly to kill harmful germs.

• Avoid spreading germs from raw turkey around food preparation areas.

• Avoid feeding raw diets to pets.

• Washing your hands before and after preparing all foods.

Most persons infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most persons recover without treatment. However, in some persons, the diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized.

The CDC last week revealed that at least 27 more people from 19 states have become sickened since it found salmonella in samples of Honey Smacks breakfast cereal, which Kellogg's began voluntarily recalling last month. The CDC has advised the public not to eat the breakfast cereal.

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