Salmonella outbreak in Caldwell County

CALDWELL COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) - Health Officials in Caldwell County, southeast of Austin, said they are dealing with a Salmonella infection outbreak.

Officials said normally they expect to see seven to nine cases a year, but Caldwell County reports 27 people infected with the bacteria in the last month.

Now health are waiting for test results to return from a lab to determine if there is a common source for the Salmonella infections.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most people infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps twelve to seventy-two hours after they're infected with the bacteria.

Most people are sick for four to seven days, and many recover without treatment, but some people need to be hospitalized to avoid dehydration.

In severe cases, Salmonella infection can spread from the intestines to the blood stream and other parts of the body.  In these cases, it's imperative that the person be treated quickly with antibiotics.

It's important for the elderly, infants, and those with impaired immune systems to see a doctor if Salmonella infection is suspected.

Salmonella is usually transmitted to humans through food that's been in contact with animal feces.

Contaminated foods can include beef, poultry, milk, or eggs, but any food, including vegetables, may become contaminated, and contaminated foods often smell and look normal.  Thoroughly cooking foods can kill the bacteria.

The bacteria can also be transmitted by food handlers who don't wash their hands after using the bathroom.