Salmonella Infections Increase in US

In recent years, US cases of food-borne illness caused by salmonella have risen 10 percent, while other cases caused by E.coli and related bacteria have declined dramatically, says US government.

Even as Germany grapples with a mysterious E. coli outbreak that has killed two dozen people, the United States has cut similar infections from serious Shiga toxin-producing E.coli O157 by nearly half in the past 15 years.

About Salmonellosis
Poor hygienic practices during cooking or handling of food products can cause this distressing infection of the intestines leading to diarrhea, cramps and fever.

And overall rates of food-borne infection have declined by 23 percent in that time period, said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

But Salmonella, which can infect eggs, poultry, meat, vegetables or processed foods, remained the most common cause of food-borne illness and a stubborn foe.

"Although food-borne infections have decreased by nearly one-fourth in the past 15 years, more than one million people in this country become ill from Salmonella each year," said CDC director Thomas Frieden.

About Water Borne Diseases
Waterborne diseases are communicable diseases caused by diseases causing microorganisms in contaminated water. It is more prevalent during floods and in tsunami affected areas.

"Continued investments are essential to detect, investigate, and stop outbreaks promptly in order to protect our food supply."

Last year, Salmonella caused 54 percent of total hospitalizations (2,300 of the total 4,200 hospitalizations) for food illness and 43 percent of all such deaths (29 of the total 68 deaths), the CDC data said.

Nestle Recalls Noodles Over Salmonella Scare
Swiss food giant Nestle has pulled a popular brand of noodles from Philippine grocery shelves after routine tests found salmonella traces in some samples, the company and health officials said.

"The incidence of Salmonella infection in 2010 was not significantly different than during 1996-1998 but was significantly higher than during 2006-2008," a 10 percent increase, it noted.

Salmonella incurs $365 million in direct medical costs each year in the United States, the CDC said.

Scientists Discover New Mechanism of Salmonella Invasion into Gut
Scientists from the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) in Braunschweig, Germany have discovered a new, hitherto unknown mechanism of Salmonella invasion into gut cells.

Pathogens included in the overall reduced level of infections compared to 1996-1998 included campylobacter, E. coli STEC O157, listeria, and yersinia.

However, vibrio infection rates, most often seen in raw seafood and shellfish, were 115 percent higher than in 1996-1998, and 39 percent higher than in 2006-2008.

"People who want to reduce their risk of food-borne illness should assume raw chicken and other meat carry bacteria that can cause illness and should not allow them to contaminate surfaces and other foods, such as produce," the CDC said.

Source-AFP