2012 outbreak of Salmonella
[4] In 2012, the various strains or serotypes of the Salmonella bacteria, related to the outbreaks in the United States, infected over 1800 people and killed seven.
[6] These exposures can occur from crops grown from waste-based fertilizers or from food items handled by infected humans.
[7][8] It can also be spread through contact with reptiles and birds, usually after the person handles the animal or its environment (without hand-washing immediately) and then touches their mouth or food items.
[8] This salmonellosis displays itself in humans with fever, abdominal pain, nausea, and, most commonly, diarrhea for a period of up to 7 days.
[8] Those requiring hospitalization usually are dehydrated or have extreme diarrhea, which can turn deadly, especially if the salmonella bacteria reaches the bloodstream.
[7][8] The elderly, young children, and those with weakened immune systems are most at risk for developing salmonellosis and having severe reactions.
[3][6] Eighteen of the over 2,300 strains of Salmonella were found in infected humans and contaminated products in Europe and the U.S.[6] S. Typhimurium has traditionally been an uncommon serotype of Salmonella; however, beginning in January 2012 through the end of 2012, the number of cases steadily rose, with 18 human cases in the United States alone (spread among eight states).
[10] The outbreak seemed to be linked to the handling of live or frozen feeder mice and rats for reptile and amphibian pets.
[10] The outbreaks in 2012 that occurred due to contact with live poultry were of five different serotypes of Salmonella bacteria originating in three distinct locations.
[11] All were infected with this strain from contact with baby ducklings or chicks from the Estes Hatchery located in Springfield, Missouri.
[11] One month later (March 2012), 46 people in the United States were infected with Salmonella Hadar through contact with live poultry.
[12] In the same month, one of three strains of Salmonella – Infantis, Newport, or Lille – were contracted by 195 people from contact with live poultry (whether for purposes of agriculture or pet keeping).
[15] The source was frozen raw yellowfin tuna product aka Nakaochi Scrape manufactured by Moon Marine USA Corporation.
[16] According to the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, by the end of 2012, 1060 people in the Netherlands and 100 in the United States contracted salmonellosis from smoked salmon infected with Salmonella Thompson.
[21] Because of the anti-salmonella bacteria limiting its spread, fewer people on the West Coast report cases of salmonellosis.
These strong links to salmonellosis is in due in part do the lack of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) oversight on unregistered vendors.
[22] The various outbreaks of Salmonella serotypes in the U.S. and abroad began at different points either in late 2011 or early 2012; however, all cases were concluded at the end of 2012.
Most importantly, this disturbance has been occurring with increasing frequency, which seems counter-intuitive because salmonellosis is an easily preventable disease; if simple food safety steps were taken, unnecessary hospitalizations and deaths could have been eliminated in 2012.
