60 Victims in Five States Afflicted with Salmonellosis

 Posted on June 12, 2018 in Food poisoning attorney

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 60 people in five states have fallen ill with salmonellosis, the illness linked to salmonella food poisoning. These 60 cases were directly linked to pre-cut melons that were available in packages of snackable melon slices as well as part of prepackaged fruit salads. The melon packages and fruit salads were largely supplied by food processor and distributor SpartanNash, but could also be found under the Caito Foods and Renaissance labels.

Victims in Illinois ranged in age from 23 to 87 years old. Illnesses linked to this outbreak have been recorded in Illinois, Missouri, Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana.

Illness Linked to Pre-Cut Melons

Currently, the CDC is urging consumers not to purchase or consume precut melons from Walmart stores in Illinois and the other states where illnesses have been reported. As the investigation continues, the CDC may add other food retailers to its list to avoid. If you have the melons in your home, throw them away.

Precut produce is one type of food that can easily be contaminated with salmonella. Salmonella can be transmitted via cutting boards, packaging machinery and materials, and on workers' hands. Salmonella bacteria lives in human and animal intestinal tracts, and is often transmitted via fecal matter.

Know the Signs of Salmonella Poisoning and When to Seek Medical Attention

Educate yourself about salmonella poisoning to protect yourself and your family from becoming ill by eating contaminated food. Salmonellosis symptoms include:

• Diarrhea;
• Fever;
• Abdominal cramps;
• Chills;
• Fatigue; and
• Loss of appetite.

In most individuals, symptoms subside within a few days and there is no need for medical intervention. Rather, an individual with a healthy immune system simply needs to rest, keep him- or herself sufficiently hydrated, and wait for the illness to run its course. Young children, the elderly, and individuals with compromised immune systems, including pregnant women, should be more proactive about receiving medical care when they experience salmonellosis symptoms.

Untreated salmonellosis can lead to severe dehydration, which can be dangerous. Even if you are an adult with a healthy immune system, you should seek medical attention for your symptoms if they do not subside within a few days after they initially occur. Typically, symptoms appear 12 to 72 hours after consuming the contaminated food and subside within four to seven days.

Work with an Experienced Chicago Food Poisoning Lawyer

If you or your child have become ill with salmonellosis or any other type of food poisoning after consuming pre-cut melons or another prepared food product, you could be entitled to recover monetary compensation for your damages through a personal injury claim. To learn more about your rights and legal options when you are in this position, contact our team of experienced food poisoning lawyers at Newland & Newland, LLP today to set up your initial legal consultation in our office. We serve clients in the Arlington Heights, Palatine, Rolling Meadows, Libertyville, Mundelein, Buffalo Grove, Schaumburg, Elk Grove, and Itasca areas.

(image courtesy of Neha Deshmukh)