Salmonella poisoning

Salmonella poisoning is a permanent problem 30,000 cases in England and Wales every year. Health minister resigned. 

On May 25, Wallace s Farmer reported that the most recent count in this epidemic, which was the largest in US history, totaled over 14,000 confirmed cases and two deaths linked to Salmonella poisoning (17). This is a mortality rate of 0.014%. 

In recent years, especially virulent and damaging strains oiEscherichia coli have caused outbreaks of illness among persons who consumed contaminated hamburger, and some cases of salmonella poisoning have been associated with the consumption of poultry products. Food irradiation may help to make such foods much safer. 

In the early 1990s, seientists discovered that more than half of the poultry that Americans consumed was contaminated by Salmonella Enteriditis, a virulent bacterium that causes diarrhea, fever, intestinal cramping, and more serious complications in immune compromised patients. Worse, as modern egg production facilities forced huge flocks of hens into close quarters, their ovaries became infected with Salmonella. As a result, the bacterium became an invisible contaminant of millions of eggs. Scientists estimated that one in ten thousand eggs was infected. Health experts estimated that 2-4 million cases of Salmonella poisoning occurred annually, resulting in around 2,000 deaths. ... 

Salmonella typhi is the causal organism of typhoid fever, Sal. paratyphi causes paratyphoid fever, whilst Sal. typhimurium, Sal. enteritidis and very many other closely related organisms are a cause of bacterial food poisoning. 

Each year in the United States, approximately 76 million food-borne illnesses occur, leading to 325,000 hospitalizations and over 5000 deaths.40 A number of bacterial and viral pathogens that have been discussed previously in this chapter (e.g., Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter, E. coli, and noroviruses) can cause food poisoning. Other bacteria that can cause foodborne illness include Staphylococcus aureus, C. perfringens, C. botu-linum, and Bacillus cereus (Table 73-5). Food poisoning should be suspected if at least two individuals present with similar symptoms after the ingestion of a common food in the prior 72 hours. 

Despite significant interest in unconventional weapons, there have been few instances of widespread death or incapacitation due to CBRN use by terrorists, and the number of casualties pales in comparison to those killed by more conventional explosives, armed attacks and arson. Since 1968, more than 14,000 people have been killed by bombing, and nearly 6,000 by armed attack, but CBRN attacks have accounted for less than 20 deaths [41]. The two most notorious unconventional attacks in modern history, Aum Shinrikyo s gassing of a Tokyo subway in 1995 and the anthrax attacks in the U.S. in the fall of 2001, killed a total of 17 people. The food poisoning by the Rajneeshees in Oregon in 1984 has also received much attention. While there were no fatalities when the cult poisoned several salad bars with Salmonella, there were more than 700 injuries. 

Oregon Cult Food Poisoning — Two members of an Oregon cult headed by Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh cultivated Salmonella (food poisoning) bacteria and used them to contaminate restaurant salad bars in an attempt to affect the outcome of a local election. Although hundreds of people became ill and 45 were hospitalized, there were no fatalities. 

Many domesticated animals Salmonella infection common cause of food poisoning, which is increasing due to poor hygiene ... 

Salmonella are a frequent cause of foodborne illness, commonly termed "food poisoning," going back long before the use of antibiotics. Salmonellosis is of unusual interest and importance to inhabitants of Chicago because of the outbreak starting in March of 1985, caused by a resistant strain of Salmonella typhimurium. 

When the diarrhea is not viral (Noro formerly known as Norwalk virus) or protozoal Entamoeba) or caused by a toxin (shell-flsh poisoning) it is often caused by either Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter or Yersinia species. In some countries there is a high prevalence of Vibrio cholerae - GTI causing severe watery diarrhea. Clostridium difficile enterocolitis is related to prior antibiotic treatment but also observed during chemotherapy. 

Salmonella enteritidis A bacterium that causes food poisoning in humans. It is found on raw eggs and poultry. 

Chlorine was first used to disinfect water in Britain in 1904, after a typhoid epidemic. (Typhoid is a water-borne, contagious illness that is caused by a species of Salmonella bacteria.) Strict limits are necessary because chlorine is ineffective when its concentration is less than 0.1 mg/L. It gives water an unpleasant taste at concentrations above 1.0 mg/L. Chlorine has a disadvantage, however. It can react with other chemicals in the water to form poisonous compounds, such as chloroform, CHCI3. These chemicals may remain in solution even after the entire treatment process. 

We know that much of the recent compunction for consumers to choose organic food has been driven by media attention to food scares , which have popularised the focus on food safety and health. Issues such as salmonella in eggs, E. coli food poisoning and the BSE disaster have all taken their toll on consumers confidence in the food industry. 

Contamination can be natural as well as man-made. We all eat food regularly and only rarely do we think about what it may contain. Our complacency can easily be shattered by a bout of food poisoning, which is most commonly the result of bacterial contamination, although similar symptoms can occur as a result of contamination by other agents, such as metals, as happened in Camelford (see pp. 143-4). If the bacteria are Salmonella or Campylobacter, the consequences may be extremely unpleasant and can be serious. These bacteria infect the gut of the unfortunate victim, multiply, and affect the lining of the intestine, causing the symptoms of diarrhoea and sickness. 

House mice, as well as other species, have been linked to man for thousands of years. Their destruction of human food supplies and crops has been recorded in very early records. Importantly, these mice are also responsible for spreading a number of diseases, such as typhus, spotted fever. Salmonella food poisoning, and bubonic plague. 

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