A salmonella outbreak caused by an unknown source is being investigated by the CDC, with Minnesota having so far had the second-most confirmed cases of the food-borne illness.
According to the CDC, the outbreak has been reported in 25 states. Texas has had the most cases (45) followed by Minnesota (13) and then 23 other states reporting between 1 and 9 cases.
“The true number of sick people in an outbreak is likely much higher than the number reported, and the outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses,” says the CDC. “This is because many people recover without medical care and are not tested for Salmonella. In addition, recent illnesses may not yet be reported as it usually takes 3 to 4 weeks to determine if a sick person is part of an outbreak.”
The CDC says the outbreak has “grown rapidly” since it was first discovered on Sept. 2. The median age of confirmed cases is 33 years old, but the infected include those less than a year old and as old as 82.
Eighteen people have been hospitalized. No one has died.
One possible lead in the CDC’s investigation is that people who do not know each other were sickened after eating at the same restaurant, though it remains unclear if this strain of salmonella is linked to a specific food.
Symptoms of salmonella infection include diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps, though some people may experience nausea, vomiting and headaches. Symptoms usually start within 6 hours to 6 days after infection and last 4-7 days.
