Jan 9, 2009 12:57 pm US/Central
Minnesota Woman With Salmonella Dies
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) ―
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Federal health officials this week said 42 states have reported illnesses from the same type of salmonella bacteria. (File)
AP
A woman from Minnesota who was infected with salmonella has died.
The Minnesota Department of Health said the woman, from outside the metro area, was in her 70s. She had the same strain of salmonella that's been identified in a recent outbreak, but because she also had some other health problems, officials don't know what exactly she died from.
The latest salmonella outbreak is affecting nearly 400 people in at least 42 states. Authorities don't know what's causing the outbreak.
"Unfortunately, with so many people and in so many things that it could be, it is possible that we may not find out what the food item is," said Doug Schultz, with the MDH.
Health department workers in Minnesota and across the country are comparing notes to try to identify the food involved in the outbreak.
Authorities warn people should take precautions to avoid food-borne illnesses, including cooking the food thoroughly, washing your hands before and after handling food, especially poultry, washing your fruits and vegetables and don't use the same knife to cut produce that you would use to cut meat.
Salmonella involves the spread of bacteria from human or animal feces somehow making it into the food we eat. It can cause diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever, within eight to 72 hours after you eat the contaminated food.
Symptoms usually go away in four to seven days, but it can be life-threatening for infants, young children, pregnant women and older adults.
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