Sick with Salmonella?
Call (612) 337-6126
Elliot Olsen has regained millions of dollars for people sickened by Salmonella. (He currently is representing four people sickened in the national Salmonella outbreak from contaminated eggs.) If you or a family member became ill after eating at events catered by Plain Nuts Catering & Deli, please call (612) 337-6126, or complete the following:
Georgia’s Newton County Health Department announced that it could not pinpoint the source of a Salmonella outbreak linked to catered meals provided by Plain Nuts Catering & Deli of Covington.
At least 70 people were sickened, and four hospitalized, in the Salmonella outbreak.
The health department said in a statement:
“A full investigation – including interviewing ill individuals, analysis of survey results completed by ill and well event attendees, and investigation in the catering facility – was conducted. Survey response analysis from one event statistically implicated chicken as the source of illness; however the source of the Salmonella could not be identified. In addition, samples of chicken and meal items containing chicken tested negative for Salmonella.
“It is often difficult to pinpoint specific foods as the cause of an outbreak. Between 1998 and 2016, there were 17,990 outbreaks in the United States associated with food and water where the source of disease transmission was never found (according to the CDC’s National Outbreak Reporting System Dashboard, ‘Unknown Food’). The last exposure date reported among ill individuals was May 11th. There is no indication of an ongoing threat of Salmonella infections related to this outbreak.”
Plain Nuts catered events
were April 28 and May 9
People reported becoming ill after attending events catered by Plain Nuts on April 28 and May 9 in Newton County, about 40 miles southeast of Atlanta. Alana Sulka, the health department’s director of epidemiology and community health, told the Rockdale Newton Citizen last week that the outbreak was first reported to her office May 4.
The health department issued a statement last week stating that “exposure and illness information from the second cluster of illness is still under investigation; however, out of an abundance of caution, the catering facility has closed until a full investigation can be conducted.”
Anybody who attended the catered events or who consumed foods or beverages from Plain Nuts Catering & Deli and developed Salmonella symptoms should tell their doctor about their possible exposure to the pathogen. In addition, the health department suggests that anyone with general questions about Salmonella or foodborne illness call 770-339-4260 and ask to speak with the epidemiologist.
Salmonella bacteria are responsible for about 1.2 million cases of food poisoning in the United States on a yearly basis, according to statistics compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Salmonella produce an illness called salmonellosis, which affects the intestinal tract.
Symptoms of salmonellosis can develop anywhere from 12 hours to three days after eating contaminated food. Those symptoms usually include:
- diarrhea, which can become debilitating and bloody
- vomiting
- severe abdominal cramps
- fever and chills.
Symptoms can last up to a week, and most victims recover without needing to see a doctor. Diarrhea, however, can become so severe that hospitalization is required.
Of the 1.2 million annual cases, about 23,000 victims will need to be hospitalized, the CDC says. In addition, approximately 450 victims will die.
Those most at risk for developing complications are children younger than 5 years old, senior citizens, women who are pregnant, and people with weakened immune systems.
Pregnancies at risk
Pregnant women have to be particularly vigilant about avoiding Salmonella. That’s because the immune system of a pregnant woman is weakened by hormonal changes. A pregnant woman who contracts salmonellosis can potentially suffer a miscarriage, enter into premature labor, or experience stillbirth.
Other complications
Complications occur when the Salmonella bacteria enter the bloodstream. This can result in numerous conditions with long-term consequences, such as:
- meningitis: inflammation of the membranes around the brain and spinal cord.
- endocarditis: infection of the inner lining off the heart, usually involving the heart’s valves.
- osteomyelitis: bone inflammation that usually affects the arms, legs, or spine.
- reactive arthritis (also called Reiter’s syndrome): inflammatory arthritis that develops in response to Salmonella bacteria in another part of the body.
