A Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Eggs Sold Across Multiple States
Michigan, Illinois, and Wisconsin are currently facing a widespread ailment due to a salmonella outbreak allegedly linked to eggs. The eggs in question were sold in these states and have subsequently led to the infection of 65 individuals.
The Wisconsin company, Milo’s Poultry Farms LLC, announced a recall of its eggs on September 6. The recall included not only eggs sold directly to consumers at stores but also those sold to restaurants. The affected eggs were labelled with either “Milo’s Poultry Farms” or “Tony’s Fresh Market” and encompassed all types, sizes, and expiration dates.
An Urgent Call from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control issued a food safety alert following the recall, sternly advising consumers, “Do not eat any recalled eggs. Throw them away or return them to where you bought them.” This was issued in response to the 65 people across nine different states falling ill between May 23 to August 10 due to the same strain of salmonella.
Distribution of Affected Individuals
The majority of the affected individuals hail from Wisconsin, with 42 reported cases, followed by Illinois with 11 cases. The remaining 12 cases are from Michigan, California, Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, Utah, and Virginia. Michigan reportedly has two cases directly linked to the salmonella outbreak. Of these sickened individuals, 24 have been hospitalized, however, fortunately, no deaths have been reported yet.
Findings from Detailed Inspections of Milo Poultry Farms
Following the salmonella outbreak, an inspection of Milo Poultry Farms, the Wisconsin-based company, was carried out. The investigators found traces of the salmonella outbreak strain in both the egg packing facility and the hen egg laying house.
Potential Health Risks
It is pertinent to note that while most people infected with salmonella experience symptoms such as diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps within 6 hours to 6 days after consuming the bacteria, there are severe cases as well. Recovery generally occurs within a week without treatment; however, certain demographics like young children or older adults may experience more severe illnesses requiring medical treatment.
Treatment Concerns
The Centers for Disease Control has issued a caution stating that, “This outbreak may be difficult to treat with some commonly recommended antibiotics and may require a different antibiotic choice for people who need them.” Laboratory testing revealed that the salmonella causing the illness has developed resistance to nalidixic acid and ciprofloxacin.
More information about the recall is available on the official CDC website.
