Credit: James Gathany/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(WASHINGTON) — The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have traced a multistate outbreak of multidrug-resistant Salmonella infections to raw turkey products.
The CDC says 90 people in 26 different states have been infected with the strain of Salmonella they’ve been tracking. Forty of those people have been hospitalized.
There have been no reported deaths linked to the outbreak.
Officials say the bacteria has been identified in samples of raw turkey pet food, raw turkey products and live turkeys. No single supplier of the products has been identified.
Two people who were infected lived in a household where raw turkey pet food was fed to pets, according to the CDC.
On its website, the CDC recommends the following tips to help prevent Salmonella:
“Wash your hands. Salmonella infections can spread from one person to another. Wash hands before and after preparing or eating food, after contact with animals, and after using the restroom or changing diapers.”
“Cook raw turkey thoroughly to kill harmful germs. Turkey breasts, whole turkeys, and ground poultry, including turkey burgers, casseroles, and sausage, should always be cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F to kill harmful germs. Leftovers should be reheated to 165°F. Use a food thermometer to check, and place it in the thickest part of the food.”
“Don’t spread germs from raw turkey around food preparation areas. Washing raw poultry before cooking is not recommended. Germs in raw poultry juices can spread to other areas and foods. Thoroughly wash hands, counters, cutting boards, and utensils with warm, soapy water after they touch raw turkey. Use a separate cutting board for raw turkey and other raw meats if possible.”
“CDC does not recommend feeding raw diets to pets. Germs like Salmonella in raw pet food can make your pets sick. Your family also can get sick by handling the raw food or by taking care of your pet.”
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