A Salmonella outbreak in Canada has sickened 91 people, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada. Sixteen people have been hospitalized, all have recovered or are recovering. The source of the outbreak has not been identified, but poultry products are suspected.
The outbreak strain, Salmonella Infantis, has sickened Canadians in nine provinces. The case count is as follows: British Columbia (6), Alberta (11), Saskatchewan (2), Manitoba (2), Ontario (53), Quebec (13) Nova Scotia (2), Prince Edward Island (1) and New Brunswick (1). Those sickened reported onset of illness from March 15 to November 30, 2015. Sixty percent are female, the average age is 40.
Symptoms of Salmonella infection including diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps usually set in six to 72 hours after exposure and last about a week. Those most at risk are children, seniors and individuals with compromised immune systems.
Poultry products are a frequent source of Salmonella infections. In the U.S., two Salmonella outbreaks were linked to raw, frozen, breaded chicken products. The first, Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak, was linked to Chicken Kiev produced by Barber Foods. Fifteen people in seven states were sickened. Four people were hospitalized.
The other, also a Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak, was linked to frozen Chicken Cordon Bleu and other breaded, raw chicken products made by Aspen Foods. Five people were sickened in that outbreak, two of them were hospitalized.
