Salmonella may cause:

• stomach cramps
• diarrhea 
• fever
• nausea
• vomiting
• dehydration can occur, especially in infants.

Symptoms start an average of 12 to 36 hours (range: 6 to 72 hours) after exposure to the organism. Sometimes a person can be infected and have no symptoms or can carry the salmonella for a long period of time. Symptoms last 4 to 7 days and most people recover without treatment.

Salmonella are spread by the fecal-oral route. Fecal material from infected humans or animals can get into our mouths in a variety of ways:

• consuming contaminated food or drink
• contact with the feces of infected humans, especially infants with diarrhea, that is not followed by proper hand washing
• direct contact with the feces of domestic or wild animals, including pets and farm animals, that is not followed by proper hand washing.

Pets may also have fecal matter on their hair, fur, feathers or skin that is transferred to our hands when we touch them. Salmonella live in the intestines of many animals including chickens, cows, pigs, sheep, and pets such as dogs, cats, chicks, ducklings, turtles, tortoises, snakes and iguanas. When animals are slaughtered for food, bacteria from an animal’s intestines may contaminate the meat that we consume.

Common sources of infection are undercooked poultry and other meats, undercooked eggs and egg products, unpasteurized milk, and other contaminated food and water. During food preparation, bacteria can be transmitted from contaminated foods to other foods or surfaces in the kitchen. This is called cross-contamination. It is especially dangerous if foods that are meant to be consumed uncooked, such as fresh fruits or vegetables, are cross-contaminated. An example of this would be cutting raw poultry or meat on a cutting board and then cutting vegetables on the same board without washing and sanitizing the board in between.

Drinking water can be contaminated when humans, and wild or domestic animals leave their droppings in or near surface water sources such as springs, streams, rivers, lakes, ponds or shallow wells.

Be aware of the risks associated with the food products you buy and know how to prepare your food safely. Treat all raw poultry and meat as if it is contaminated and handle it accordingly.

Handle and prepare food safely:

• Refrigerate foods promptly
• Keep raw poultry and meats well wrapped and on lower refrigerator shelves so blood does not drip onto other foods
• Thaw poultry and meat in the refrigerator, microwave, or under cold running water, not at room temperature
• Do not eat raw or undercooked poultry or meats
• To ensure poultry and meats are cooked thoroughly, use a meat thermometer and take the INTERNAL temperature of the meat by inserting the thermometer into the thickest part of the meat. You must achieve the following temperatures: The MINIMUM internal temperature for poultry is 74º C (165º F)and the MINIMUM internal temperature for other meats is 71º C (160º F)
• Avoid direct contact between raw meats and other uncooked foods
• When cooking or barbequing, use separate plates and utensils for raw and cooked poultry and meat
• Use a separate cutting board for raw meats. If a second cutting board is unavailable, cut all other ingredients first before cutting raw meats
• Wash and sanitize items that do not go in the dishwasher, such as cutting boards, utensils, counters, kitchen sinks and tap handles:

1) Wash with warm, soapy water

2) Rinse with warm, plain water

3) Sanitize with a mild bleach solution - one teaspoon of bleach per litre of water. Immerse items in the solution or spray solution onto surfaces and soak for at least two minutes to kill any bacteria

Other ways to prevent infection:

• WASH YOUR HANDS!:

1) Before eating

2) Before handling food

3) Immediately after handling raw poultry or meat, and before touching anything else

4) After using the toilet or changing diapers

5) After touching animals

6) After any time they may have become contaminated

• Do not eat raw unpasteurized eggs or uncooked foods containing raw unpasteurized eggs
• Do not drink unpasteurized milk, and if you are prone to more serious illness, do not drink unpasteurized juices
• If your local drinking water provider has issued a Boil Water Notice for your community, take the advice seriously
• Do not drink untreated surface water from a spring, stream, river, lake, pond or shallow well. Assume it is contaminated with animal feces.

Boil or disinfect water from these sources that is used for:

1) drinking

2) making ice cubes

3) washing uncooked fruits and vegetables

4) making baby formula

5) brushing teeth

6) washing dentures and

7) any other consumption without adequate heat treatment

•  Boil water for at least 1 minute at a rolling boil. At elevations above 2000 m (6562 ft), boil for at least 2 minutes, or  
• Disinfect using 1 drop of bleach per litre of water. Shake and allow to stand for 30 minutes before drinking
• For more information read How To Disinfect Drinking Water
• Make sure children, particularly those who handle pets, wash their hands carefully before eating and on a regular basis if they suck their thumbs or put their hands in their mouths
• Do not allow young children or those who have compromised immune systems to handle chicks, ducklings or reptile pets
• If you are considering raising poultry in your backyard, talk to your local government about bylaws and check out the CDC website for information on backyard poultry for precautions to follow.
• If a trip to a petting zoo or farm is planned, read  Petting Zoos and Open Farm Visits for important information.