Tonight, we're hearing from the Rhode Island Department of Health
about a nationwide salmonella outbreak potentially linked to cucumbers.
A handful of people have gotten sick here in the
ocean.
State 12 News reporter Kayla Fish joins us now with
what you need to know.
Kayla. Most people infected with salmonella can experience fever,
vomiting, stomach cramps or diarrhea,
but it can also cause serious and sometimes fatal infections
in young kids,
the elderly, or people with weakened immune systems,
which is why health officials are urging people to be
aware.
Unfortunately, this is a relatively large national outbreak.
The Rhode Island Department of Health working with the CDC
and FDA to investigate a salmonella outbreak that health officials
believe may be linked to cucumbers.
162 people in 25 states have gotten sick,
including four in Rhode Island.
This is all part of the investigation is just trying
to understand what the what the potential source of this
is.
The company Fresh Start Produce Sales recalled whole cucumbers that
were potentially contaminated with salmonella and shipped in bulk to
more than a dozen states from May 17th to the
21st. Rhino says none were shipped directly here.
Our Center for Food Protection here at the State Health
laboratories has done some investigating around those four cases.
They've done some testing. Associated with those cases of cucumbers,
they have not detected a source of salmonella.
But of course, we're in contact with our our our
national partners to just to keep monitoring.
The produce shouldn't be in stores anymore,
but anyone who thinks they have a contaminated product should
check with the place they bought it to see if
it was part of the recall.
If you can't tell, don't eat it.
People should be aware and they should call us at
the Rhode Island Department of Health if they think that
they've eaten something that has resulted in an illness.
That number to call is 401-222-2749.
The CDC is also investigating.
A second salmonella outbreak with a different strain that's made
158 people sick and nearly two dozen states,
including three here in Rhode Island.
Health officials are working to determine whether both outbreaks are
connected in studio.
I'm Kayla Fish, 12 News.