How to protect yourself from salmonella
The winter of 2008-2009 saw a serious nationwide salmonella outbreak across the USA that was tracked down by food authorities to a factory in the southern US state of Georgia that processed peanut products. The contaminated foods included crackers, biscuits, brownies, ice cream, pet food, and snack bars. Many thousands of people and animals were sickened, and there was a huge recall of all the products affected.
What is salmonella, and at how much risk are ordinary people of contracting it? Salmonella is a bacteria that lives in the intestinal tracts of humans and animals. There are many kinds of salmonella, but the ones that are most commonly involved in human outbreaks of illness are the salmonella typhimurium and salmonella enteritidis.
Raw food of animal origin, such as the raw fish, undercooked meats and poultry, plus some fruits and vegetables, raw eggs and unpasteurised dairy products are potential carriers. There are also frequent outbreaks across the US due to various raw sprouts, such as alfalfa. Other potential food sources are mayonnaise, biscuit dough and ice cream made with raw eggs.
Another less well-known source of salmonella is through the handling of baby chicks and ducks, such as at petting zoos or bought as gifts by parents at Easter time. However children under age 5 should never be allowed to handle baby chicks or ducks, as they are too likely to put their hands into their mouths without washing them and thereby readily contracting the disease. Turtles, snakes and other reptiles can also carry salmonella in their intestines, so their waste materials are a potential source of disease and must be disposed of vigilantly and hands washed thoroughly afterwards.
Recently a case was reported regarding a young girl who was permanently disabled by a case of salmonella poisoning she got after eating contaminated chicken at a Sydney fast food chain. Her parents and brother also got ill and required hospitalisation, but her case developed into encephalopathy, septicaemia and spastic quadriplegia which resulted in her profound intellectual disability and liver dysfunction. The international chain that owns the restaurant has been fined $73,125 and convicted of 11 charges of breaches of food hygiene following an investigation.
Hundreds of Australians contract salmonella each year. Symptoms include severe abdominal cramping, diarrhea, and fever within 72 hours of infection. Most people recover within 7 days without any treatment, as long as they drink plenty of liquids to keep well hydrated. People with weak immune systems such as infants and the elderly can have serious or even fatal consequences. Awareness and vigilance of the potential sources of contamination are required to help in avoiding food poisoning. Also, check out the government’s website that identifies restaurants that have been found guilty of breaching food safety laws
