A Salmonella outbreak that has sickened nearly 20 people in Norway has been linked to watermelons.
The Folkehelseinstituttet (FHI) reported that of the 13 sick people interviewed so far, all had eaten watermelon in the days before falling ill. Melons were purchased at various retail outlets.
Eighteen people were part of a monophasic Salmonella typhimurium outbreak, eight of whom were hospitalized.
Patients are 1 to 87 years old, 10 males and 8 females. They live in six different parts of the country, with Møreog Romsdal and Vestland having the most cases, but fewer in Trøndelag, Rogaland, Troms, Finnmark and Innlandet.
Melon Club of Professional Risk Assessment Committee
Mattilsynet (Norwegian Food Safety Authority) said it was highly unlikely that the watermelons associated with the outbreak were still on the market. Most people got sick from the end of June to mid-July.
Efforts are continuing to trace where the related watermelon came from.
To reduce the risk of infection, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority’s advice on safe handling includes: do not use melons with deep skin damage; wash and dry melons before cutting; This includes washing with soap and water. Handle melons and keep sliced melons cold.
According to Taran Skjeldal, a researcher at the Norwegian Veterinary Institute, melons have caused another epidemic with several types of bacteria.
“In this outbreak, it is salmonella. Other countries have had large outbreaks of listeria and several other foodborne pathogens. We have chosen to give it a special focus. Work on this will begin in October,” said Skjerdal, who is part of the expert group conducting the evaluation.
About salmonella
Salmonella-contaminated food usually does not look, smell, or taste bad. Anyone can get a salmonella infection. According to the CDC, infants, children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of serious illness due to their fragile immune systems.
People who develop symptoms of salmonella food poisoning should seek medical attention. Diagnosing salmonellosis requires special tests, so sick people should tell their doctor about possible exposure to salmonella. Symptoms of salmonella infection can resemble other illnesses, which often leads to misdiagnosis.
Symptoms of salmonella infection include diarrhea within 12 to 72 hours of eating contaminated food, abdominal cramps, and fever. Otherwise healthy adults will usually be sick for 4 to 7 days. However, in some cases, diarrhea can be severe and require hospitalization.
Older people, children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems, such as cancer patients, are more likely to develop serious illnesses and serious, sometimes life-threatening conditions. Some people become infected without showing symptoms. However, it is possible to spread the infection to others.
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