Salmonella outbreak causes one death

A multistate outbreak of salmonella linked to ground beef has caused one death in California and eight hospitalizations, U.S. health officials said on Friday.

A total of 10 people in six U.S. states were infected with a strain of the bacteria called Salmonella Dublin, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The illnesses from this strain, a type usually found in cattle, are more severe than expected for salmonella, which usually has a 20% hospitalization rate, the agency said.

The patients were between 48 and 74 years and 80% of them were male, the agency said.

Retailers can continue to sell ground beef and consumers can consume thoroughly cooked beef, the CDC said.

No common supplier of ground beef has yet been identified.

What is Salmonella?

Salmonella is a genus of bacteria that are a major cause of foodborne illness throughout the world. The bacteria are generally transmitted to humans through consumption of contaminated food of animal origin, mainly meat, poultry, eggs and milk.

The symptoms of Salmonella infection usually appear 12–72 hours after infection, and include fever, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, nausea and sometimes vomiting. The illness usually lasts 4–7 days, and most people recover without treatment. However, in the very young and the elderly, and in cases when the bacteria enter the bloodstream, antibiotherapy may be needed.