CDC: Drug-resistant Salmonella Outbreak from Foster Farms Chicken Affected 416
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today posted an Investigation Update on the multistate outbreak of multidrug-resistant Salmonella Heidelberg infections linked to Foster Farms brand chicken that was initially reported in early October. To date, 416 individuals have been affected (an increase of 27 from the Nov. 19 update), in 23 states and Puerto Rico.
Given the available background information, the CDC said that illness onset dates range from March 1 to Dec. 1, 2013. Among 340 persons with available information, 134 (39%) reported being hospitalized. Thirteen percent of ill persons have developed blood infections as a result of their illness, whereas typically, approximately 5% of persons ill with Salmonellosis develop blood infections. No deaths have been reported.