Health Law

Kenosha County, Wisconsin Salmonella Outbreak

By Drew Falkenstein

Yesterday, we reported on a developing Salmonella outbreak in Kenosha County, Wisconsin.  It was reported yesterday that the outbreak was possibly linked to food served at the Baker Street Restaurant and Pub, which the County Health Department has shut down.  Today, the Kenosha County Health Department has reported that the outbreak has caused 26 confirmed Salmonella illnesses, although there has been no official statement on what the cause or source of the outbreak is. 

About Salmonella

Salmonella is a bacterium that causes one of the most common enteric (intestinal) infections in the United States – Salmonellosis. In some states (e.g. Georgia, Maryland), salmonellosis is the most commonly reported cause of enteric disease, and overall it is the second most common bacterial foodborne illness reported (usually slightly less frequent than Campylobacter infection).

The reported incidence of Salmonella illnesses is about 14 cases per each 100,000 persons (MMWR Weekly, 2006), amounting to approximately 30,000 confirmed cases of salmonellosis yearly in the U.S. (CDC, 2005, October 13). In 2005, just over 36,000 cases were reported from public health laboratories across the nation, representing a 12 percent decrease compared with the previous decade, but a 1.5 percent increase over 2004 (CDC, 2007).

As only about 3 percent of Salmonella cases are officially reported nationwide, and many milder cases are never diagnosed, the true incidence is undoubtedly much higher (Mead, 1999). The CDC estimates that 1.4 million cases occur annually (CDC, 2005, October 13). Approximately 600 deaths are caused by Salmonella infections in the U.S. every year, accounting for 31 percent of all food-related deaths (CDC, 2005, October 13; MMWR Weekly, 2001).
 

Full post as published by Food Poison Blog on July 15, 2010 (boomark / email).