Over the last couple of months, we’ve been warned about possible outbreaks of
measles and
MERS;
norovirus on cruise ships and at resorts; and strains of
Ebola spreading through Africa and worrying health officials. So, this headline should make us all feel better:
“
U.S. salmonella outbreak widens, 574 now sick from Foster Farms chicken”
Yeah, remember that salmonella scare from last March? Turns out that hasn’t actually ended yet. At the end of May, the outbreak was still rampant. Fortunately, the year-long outbreak hasn’t resulted in any fatalities, but that doesn’t make me any less wary about the disease—especially this particular strain, which is proving resistant to drugs and increasingly leading to blood infections.
An AP article,
“5 Things to Know About Salmonella in Chicken,” outlines the current situation (including an explanation of why the CDC doesn’t seem to be able to get this in hand), describes the symptoms, and reminds us of the number one preventative practice:
cook your chicken.
And, not to pile it on here, but did you know that chicken is not the only carrier of salmonella? According to the
CDC, just about any raw dairy, meat, fruit, or veggies can be contaminated; so can water sources that come into contact with human or animal waste, as well as certain domestic animals themselves. In fact, an info sheet from Utah’s Bureau of Epidemiology reports “Utah as well as the rest of the U.S. has seen an increase in Salmonella infection as the result of increased ownerships of exotic animal species such as reptiles.”
Okay, yuck!
So, besides sealing myself in an anti-septic bubble for the rest of my life, what can I do? The CDC’s
“Salmonella Prevention” page has a comprehensive list of tips to keep from contracting the bug (my favorite: “Don't work with raw poultry or meat, and an infant [e.g., feed, change diaper, etc.] at the same time.” I mean, I know we moms gotta multitask, but really?).
Another helpful resource is “How to Prevent a Salmonella Infection,” from about-salmonella.com. And if you’re worried about your own water sources (either at home or on the trail), read through our article,
“Making Water Drinkable: Ways to Filter and Purify Water You Have on Hand.”
Be prepared to stay healthy, and jump into the discussion here to share your best prevention tips!
-Stacey
