CDC warns of drug-resistant salmonella outbreak

NEW YORK (FOX5NY) - There is an outbreak of drug-resistant salmonella in 29 states including New York and New Jersey.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have linked 92 cases as of Oct. 15, 2018 to raw chicken products. At least 21 people have been hospitalized but there have been no deaths linked to the outbreak.  The victims range in age from less than a year old to 105.

Investigators have been looking into illnesses that started in January through early September.  The chicken is not coming from one source that they have been able to identify.  Epidemiologic 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 has been identified in samples taken from raw chicken pet food, raw chicken products, and live chickens.

Tests also showed the specific strain of salmonella that made them sick is resistant to multiple antibiotics, the agency said.

The outbreak strain is present in live chickens and in many types of raw chicken products, indicating it might be widespread in the chicken industry.

Salmonella causes diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps. It usually lasts four to seven days without treatment but can occasionally lead to hospitalization or death.

Health experts say there are steps you can take to help avoid food poisoning from chicken:  Wash your hands, cook raw chicken thoroughly to kill germs, wash your preparation areas.  Do not feed raw foot to pets.  The CDC also says that it is not a good idea to wash raw chicken before cooking it because that can spread germs in raw chicken to other areas.