A Salmonella saintpaul outbreak has sickened 15 people, according to the Oakland County Health Division in Pontiac, Michigan. The notice states that cases have also been identified in other counties in Michigan, as well as in Ohio and Illinois.
The notice from public health officials quotes Dr. Pamela Hackert, chief of medical services at the Health Division, who said, “The ongoing investigation suggests that the Salmonella is being spread through personal contact. Residents are reminded to wash their hands thoroughly before every meal and after using the restroom.”
But according to Rochester Patch, a popular Mexican restaurant in downtown Rochester has been closed due to “Salmonella concerns.” Rojo Mexican Bistro has been temporarily closed “after several diners were recently diagnosed with a rare strain of Salmonella,” according to the paper. The closure was voluntary and the restaurant is cooperating with public health authorities.
The symptoms of a Salmonella infection include diarrhea, fever, abdominal cramps, vomiting, headache, muscle pains, and blood in the stool. These symptoms usually begin six to seventy-two hours after exposure to the pathogenic bacteria. If you ate at that restaurant and have experienced these symptoms, see your doctor.
Most people recover on their own after this illness in about four to seven days, but some do become so ill they must be hospitalized. Dehydration is the most common cause of hospitalization. Those most at risk for serious complications include the very young, the elderly, pregnant women, people with chronic illnesses, and those with compromised immune systems.
And Salmonella infections can have long term health consequences. One of those is reactive arthritis, along with high blood pressure and irritable bowel syndrome.
To help prevent the spread of Salmonella infections, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water after using the bathroom, after changing diapers or caring for someone who is sick, especially with a diarrheal illness, and before preparing food, serving food, or eating. Clean and disinfect all surface areas if someone in your home is sick. Wash your hands thoroughly after handling reptiles, birds, or baby chicks, and after contact with pet feces. And stay home instead of going to work or school, especially if you work in the health care, school, or food industry.
The lawyers at Pritzker Hageman, America’s food safety law firm, successfully represent people who have been harmed by adulterated food products in outbreaks throughout the country. Its lawyers have won hundreds of millions of dollars for survivors of foodborne illness, including the largest verdict in American history for a person harmed by coli and hemolytic uremic syndrome. The firm also publishes the E-news site, Food Poisoning Bulletin, a reliable source for food safety news. Pritzker Hageman lawyers are regularly interviewed by major news outlets such as the New York Times, CNN, and the Wall Street Journal. And the firm represents people harmed by pathogenic microorganisms in Legionnaires‘ disease, surgical site infection, and product liability cases.
