What are the signs and symptoms of salmonella?
• Sudden onset of cramps, diarrhea, nausea, fever, chills, headache and vomiting. • Dehydration is possible in cases where diarrhea is severe. • The illness can last from several days to several weeks. Most people are ill for 4-7 days and recover without treatment. • Symptoms usually appear 6 to 72 hours after swallowing the bacteria, though 12-36 hours is the most common. • Some strains of salmonella can cause more serious illness like typhoid fever. In a small number of cases, salmonella infection is dangerous and can be life threatening to infants, children, the elderly or people with immune system disorders. How is salmonella spread? • Any raw meats, especially raw or undercooked poultry, may carry salmonella. If these foods are not properly cooked, the bacteria can survive to cause illness when these foods are eaten. • Salmonella bacteria are commonly found in the intestine of livestock, poultry, cats, dogs, rats, turtles, exotic pets (i.e. iguanas) and other animals. It has also
