SCI/165

Food borne illness short answer questions

1. What is the infectious agent (pathogen) that causes this infectious disease? For example, the name of the bacteria, virus or parasite.

Salmonella is an infection with salmonella bacteria.

2. How is this infectious agent transmitted through food or water?

Salmonella can definitely be transmitted through food products, mostly raw foods. It can definitely be transmitted on food that has been prepared on surfaces that has already cam in contact with the illness. I have also read that you can get salmonella from handling pets such as reptiles like snakes and turtles. It can be found in water and soil as well.

3. What is an example of a real life outbreak of this food borne illness in the United States?

There was recently an outbreak of salmonella illness in spring 2008. It was founded and investigated when hundreds of people through out the United States became sick after eating contaminated food, They actually came to the conclusion that it could have came from fresh jalapeno and Serrano peppers from Mexico. They also considered raw tomatoes as well. They ended up narrowing it down to what farms that were involved. After doing some research and found this article it did shock me because I was 18 years old at the time of this outbreak and I have never heard of this happening. I do think that everyone should be aware of things like this when it happens because it will educate you on how to protect yourself.

4. What are the clinical symptoms, duration of the disease and treatment if any?

The symptoms of salmonella are fever, diarrhea and cramps as well in the abdomen area; the symptoms will end up developing 12 to 72 hours after getting in contact with the illness. The illness will end up lasting 4 to 7 days. You can also begin to get severely dehydrated. The dehydration and diarrhea can be so bad that you will need to be seen by a doctor. To tell all you need is a physical exam by a doctor. Some doctors may even have you do a stool culture and in some case maybe even a blood test. To help yourself survive the dehydration part you can simple sip on a rehydration drink but only taking sips only.

5. What steps can be taken to prevent further outbreaks? Include individual as well as environmental precautions and methods.

Some of the steps that you can take to prevent any further outbreaks you need to not eat raw or under cooked meals and raw eggs as well. There are a lot of things that can call for raw eggs so you should watch for that. You should also cook all of your food till they are well done. You can also avoid raw milk. Always wash your hands after handling foods, do not come in contact with other people that currently have the illness. Also you should be careful when handling animals. I also believe that in order to do it you should be well educated on the illness it’s self. If you know everything that you can do to prevent an outbreak from happening people would do it.