Many raw chicken products in USA has reported Salmonella Infantis infections. As of October 17, 2018, 92 sick people have been reported from 29 states, including 21 people who have been hospitalized.Fortunately,no deaths have been reported yet.Such cases are also reported from other parts of world.Non of these are on the scale epidemical danger. However,prevention is the first step for preventing any epidemic emergency. CDC has done extensive investigation into these cases and has issued some guidelines for stopping  its spread and prevention.investigation notice regarding a multistate outbreak of Salmonella infections linked to raw chicken products. [caption id=attachment_2981 align=alignnone width=827] Chicken in farm[/caption] Key Points of this investigation

• CDC and public health and regulatory officials in several states are investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Infantis infections linked to raw chicken products. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service is monitoring the outbreak.
• As of October 17, 2018, 92 sick people have been reported from 29 states, including 21 people who have been hospitalized without any report of fatality.
• Epidemiological and laboratory evidence indicates that many types of raw chicken products from a variety of sources are contaminated with Salmonella and are making people sick.
• The outbreak strain of Salmonella was found in live chickens and in many types of raw chicken products, indicating it might be widespread in the chicken industry.
• A single, common supplier of raw chicken products or of live chickens has not been identified.
• Testing shows that the outbreak strain of Salmonella is resistant to multiple antibiotics that may be used to treat people with severe Salmonella infection.
• CDC and USDA-FSIS have shared this information with representatives from the chicken industry and asked about steps that they may be taking to reduce Salmonella contamination.
• This investigation is ongoing and CDC will provide more information as it becomes available.

• Always handle raw chicken carefully and cook it thoroughly to prevent food poisoning.
• CDC is NOT advising that consumers avoid eating properly cooked chicken products, or that retailers stop selling raw chicken products.
• General ways you can prevent Salmonella infection include good handwashing and cooking chicken to an internal temperature of 165°F.
• Do not wash raw poultry before cooking. Germs in raw chicken can spread to other foods and kitchen surfaces.
• People get sick from Salmonella 12 to 72 hours after swallowing the germ and experience diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps.
• Most people recover within a week, but some illnesses can last longer and be more severe.
• See your healthcare provider if you are concerned about symptoms, such as a high fever (temperature over 101.5˚F), blood in your poop, diarrhea, or frequent vomiting that prevents keeping liquid down.

 Tips for Preventing Salmonella

• Cook poultry, ground beef, and eggs thoroughly. Do not eat or drink foods containing raw eggs, or raw (unpasteurized) milk.
• If you are served under-cooked meat, poultry or eggs in a restaurant, dont hesitate to send it back to the kitchen for further cooking.
• Wash hands, kitchen work surfaces, and utensils with soap and water immediately after they have been in contact with raw meat or poultry.
• Be particularly careful with foods prepared for infants, the elderly, and the immuno-compromised.
• Wash hands with soap after handling reptiles, birds, or baby chicks, and after contact with pet feces.
• Avoid direct or even indirect contact between reptiles (turtles, iguanas, other lizards, snakes) and infants or immuno-compromised persons.
• Dont work with raw poultry or meat, and an infant (e.g., feed, change diaper) at the same time.
• Mothers milk is the safest food for young infants. Breastfeeding prevents salmonellosis and many other health problems.

• Most patients with Salmonella diarrheal illness require only supportive care, including fluid replacement.  However, antibiotic treatment can be appropriate for certain patients, such as those with severe diarrhea, extra-intestinal infections (for example, urinary tract infection), or other risk factors for invasive disease .Common first-line oral antibiotics for susceptible Salmonella infections are fluoroquinolones (for adults) and azithromycin (for children). Ceftriaxone is an alternative first-line treatment agent. The strain of Salmonella Infantis in this outbreak is multidrug-resistant and not susceptible to the common first-line antibiotics ciprofloxacin and ceftriaxone, as well as several other antibiotics
•  Many patients in this outbreak had urinary tract infections with urine cultures that yielded Salmonella Infantis. 

  Diagnosis

  • Obtain appropriate cultures (for example, stool, urine, blood).
  • Order antimicrobial susceptibility testing of the Salmonella isolate to guide the choice of antibiotic.
  • If Salmonella is identified by a culture-independent diagnostic test (CIDT), request a culture to obtain an isolate for antimicrobial susceptibility testing (this is called a reflex culture).

  Treatment

  • Choose an antibiotic based on the results of antimicrobial susceptibility testing whenever possible.
  • Consider consulting an infectious disease specialist for management of patients with multi drug-resistant or complicated Salmonella infections.
  • Remind patients about careful hand hygiene after using the bathroom and before preparing meals, to prevent transmission to others.
  • Ensure that  a negative stool test is obtained  before a person can return to work in a high-risk setting, such as food preparation, childcare, or healthcare.