A Salmonella outbreak that has sickened 15 people and killed one person in Hopkins County, KY has been linked to Casa Mexicana, a Mexican restaurant in Madisonville, Public Health Director Denise Beach told Food Poisoning Bulletin today. Salmonella found in food from the restaurant was a genetic match to the strain found in cultures from patients.
Of the 15 residents of Hopkins County with culture confirmed cases of Salmonella infection, five have been hospitalized, Beach said. There hasn’t been a new report of onset of illness in 10 days, she said.
Salmonella is a bacteria commonly found in the intestines of humans and animals. It is shed in feces and causes and infection, called salmonellosis, when someone eats food that is contaminated with microscopic amounts of fecal matter. Using a food thermometer to cook meat, poultry and eggs to a safe temperature is one way to reduce the risk of food poisoning. Other safeguards include storing and holding food at a safe temperature, washing hands after using the bathroom and before preparing or eating food.
Symptoms of a Salmonella infection include nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea that is sometimes bloody. Symptoms usually set in within 12 to 72 hours of exposure and last up to a week. If you live in western Kentucky and have these symptoms, see your doctor.
