What is salmonella and how to avoid?

• April 23, 2024

According to National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , the salmonella is a group of bacteria found in raw poultry, eggs, beef, and sometimes in unwashed fruits and vegetables.

In the United States, the most common cause of the disease is transmitted by food. In this regard, the Illinois Department of Public Health linked 17 cases of salmonella, registered this year in Chicago and other cities in the state with papayas from Mexico.

Through a press release, the Federal Food Control Agency (FDA for its acronym in English), said that eight people were hospitalized. Five cases were detected in Chicago, four in the suburbs of Cook County, four in DuPage County and one in Kane, Lake, Will and Winnebago counties (respectively)

The cases included an outbreak that infested 97 people in 23 states between July 1 and 18 of this year, without deaths. The contaminated papayas they belonged to brands Blondie, Yaya, Mañanita Y Tastylicious, produced in the states of Chiapas, Yucatán and San Luis Potosí, were distributed in the United States and Canada before July 23.

Know the symptoms

The most common symptoms of salmonella are fever , diarrhea , abdominal cramps and headache. These usually last between 4 and 7 days. Most people get better without treatment. However, this bacterium is more serious when it occurs in vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly or people with chronic diseases .

However, if the salmonella penetrates the bloodstream, can develop a serious and even risky for life. The usual treatment is based on antibiotics. You can also get an infection after handling pets, especially when touching reptiles such as snakes, turtles and lizards.

How to avoid salmonella

1. Keep your kitchen clean. Regularly wash and disinfect all utensils and tables to cut your food
2. Use special care when cutting meats, poultry and seafood
3. Wash your hands continuously, especially before preparing meals and eating
4. Check the expiration dates of each product you purchase
5. Do not let your food be out of the refrigerator for more than two hours
6. Use a thermometer when cooking to make sure your food is at the right temperature
7 . Wash food rigorously: fresh fruits and vegetables
8. Eat the food as soon as you have prepared it
9. It is recommended that you do not drink unpasteurized dairy products

The key to avoiding this bacterium is the hygiene that you have in your food and in your daily life. Remember to wash your hands and keep your food and work areas clean, because in many occasions we consume food in our work area and there may be "pockets" of infection.

Video Medicine: Infectious Diseases A to Z: Preventing salmonella infection during Thanksgiving (April 2024).