Irish public health officials have reported four recent outbreaks of Salmonella.
The four different salmonellosis clusters affected 15 people, according to a report published by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) in Ireland.
Patients ranged in age from infants to people more than 80 years old with 11 females and four males sick. Four of them needed hospital treatment.
Six people in Ireland were part of a multi-country Salmonella Braenderup outbreak linked to galia melons from Honduras. In total, 350 confirmed cases were recorded across Europe and the United Kingdom. In Ireland, people fell ill from late March to early May.
The source is unknown for the other three incidents that all affected three people.
For a Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak, one case had illness onset in 2015 while two people were sickened this year. One in March and the other in June.
A Salmonella 4,[5],12:i:- cluster affected a trio of people from May 22 to June 25, 2021.
Salmonella Infantis was behind three cases from March 19 to July 14. This same type of Salmonella was responsible for an outbreak across the United Kingdom with 179 reported cases linked to pork scratching products.
However, Irish officials previously said they were not aware of any cases linked to the products. A recall for Mr. Porky original scratchings was issued in the country in August.
The latest data shows there have been 101 reported Salmonella infections through mid-September in Ireland this year compared to 156 for the same period in 2020.
About Salmonella
Food contaminated with Salmonella bacteria does not usually look, smell, or taste spoiled. Anyone can become sick with a Salmonella infection. Infants, children, seniors, and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of serious illness because their immune systems are fragile, according to the CDC.
Anyone who has developed symptoms of Salmonella food poisoning should seek medical attention. Sick people should tell their doctors about the possible exposure to Salmonella bacteria because special tests are necessary to diagnose salmonellosis. Salmonella infection symptoms can mimic other illnesses, frequently leading to misdiagnosis.
Symptoms of Salmonella infection can include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food. Otherwise, healthy adults are usually sick for four to seven days. In some cases, however, diarrhea may be so severe that patients require hospitalization.
Older adults, children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems, such as cancer patients, are more likely to develop a severe illness and serious, sometimes life-threatening conditions. Some people get infected without getting sick or showing any symptoms. However, they may still spread the infections to others.
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