A Salmonella Stanley outbreak in Washington state has been reported to the Seattle-King County Public Health Department. Six people infected with the outbreak strain of bacteria were reported to Public Health during July 17 – July 24, 2017.
On July 26 and 27, pulsed field-gel electrophoresis (PFGE) results came in. They showed that four of the six cases have the same genetic fingerprint, which suggests a common source of infection. Genetic fingerprinting for the other two cases is pending.
This particular strain of Salmonella bacteria has only been seen twice before in King County. Usually, only two to six cases are reported in that area every year. Public Health is interviewing patients in this outbreak to gather information about possible risk sources.
The median age of the cases is 21 years. Three are female and three are male. None of the patients have been hospitalized.
The symptoms of a Salmonella infection include diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, nausea, and a fever. Symptoms usually begin six to 72 hours after exposure. Most people get well on their own after four to seven days, but some do develop sepsis or dehydration and need to be hospitalized.
To prevent these infections, always wash your hands well with soap and water after using the bathroom, caring for someone who is sick, or changing diapers. Always wash your hands before preparing food or eating. Cook all meats, especially poultry, to safe internal temperatures and test with a food thermometer. Avoid eating raw and undercooked meats and eggs, and do not consume raw milk or raw dairy products. To avoid cross contamination, wash cutting boards and utensils used of meat or poultry before using them to prepare other foods.
The noted law firm Pritzker Hageman helps people who have been sickened by contaminated food protect their legal rights and get answers and compensation. Our lawyers help patients and families of children in personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits against schools, retailers, grocery stores, food processors, restaurants, and others. Attorney Fred Pritzker recently won $7.5 million for a young client whose kidneys failed because he developed hemolytic uremic syndrome after an E. coli infection. You should know that class action lawsuits may not be appropriate for outbreak victims because each individual case is different.
