For immediate release: January 23, 2010 (10-010)

Contacts:
Tim Church, Communications Office 360-236-4077
Donn Moyer, Communications Office 360-236-4076

National Salmonella outbreak includes more than a dozen Washington cases
Federal health investigators seek to confirm source

OLYMPIA - A national outbreak of more than 180 cases of Salmonella Montevideo includes 14 Washington residents.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have announced a national investigation (www.cdc.gov/salmonella/montevideo/map.html). Federal and state disease investigators have implicated salami (www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Recall_006_2010_Release/index.asp) as the possible source of the Salmonella, though a direct link has not yet been confirmed.

All 14 of Washington’s cases were sick between July and December 2009; one was hospitalized and all have recovered. The outbreak strain, Salmonella Montevideo, is quite common and some of these cases, and others around the state, may not be part of the outbreak.

The Washington State Department of Health is working with local and federal partners on the disease investigation.

Salmonellosis (www.doh.wa.gov/EHSPHL/factsheet/salmonel.htm) is a common bacterial infection that comes from more than 2,000 strains of Salmonella. Most people recover from salmonellosis on their own, without treatment or medication.

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