Vancouver, BC - British Columbia is seeing a steady increase in cases of Salmonella food borne illness, with the vast majority of these being reported in the lower mainland.
“In the past two months, we have seen over 60 cases of infection, all due to the same strain of Salmonella,” explains Dr. Eleni Galanis, Physician Epidemiologist with the BC Centre for Disease Control, an agency of the Provincial Health Services Authority. “While the cause for this increase has not yet been confirmed, a detailed investigation is underway, which includes thorough interviews with all cases and testing of potentially contaminated food to try to identify the source.”
Salmonella are naturally-occurring bacteria found in the intestines of animals, particularly poultry, cattle and swine. Salmonella can contaminate meat, eggs and raw fruits and vegetables. Symptoms of Salmonella infection may include fever, headache, diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea and sometimes vomiting. These symptoms commonly occur 12 to 36 hours after eating contaminated food or water, and can be serious for young children, elderly people, and those with weak immune systems.
“This strain, different from the one causing the Salmonella outbreak in the US, had only 39 cases reported in total for 2007, so seeing 60 cases in two months is a cause for concern,” says Dr. Galanis, who along with her colleagues from BCCDC, and partners from regional Health Authorities, and provincial and federal governments, is increasing surveillance and laboratory testing of Salmonella.
To prevent food borne illness, the BCCDC reminds British Columbians to buy food from approved sources only, and to follow the four C’s of Food Safety:
- CLEAN: wash hands (minimum of 20 seconds), produce and food preparation surfaces;
- Don’t CROSS CONTAMINATE: do not use the same utensils, plates or cutting board for raw meat and raw vegetables or cooked meat;
- COOK: meat, including poultry, should be cooked to an internal temperature of at least 74°C, and eggs until they are no longer runny;
- CHILL: refrigerate food promptly.
If you have symptoms compatible with Salmonella infection, call the 24-hour BC NurseLine at 1-866-215-4700, contact a family physician, or view the BC HealthFiles on Salmonella and Food Safety at http://www.healthlinkbc.ca/healthfiles/hfile59a.stm
For more information, please visit:
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Media Contact:
Ritinder Harry
BCCDC Communications
604-660-4922
ritinder.harry@bccdc.ca
