Public health agencies investigating Salmonella outbreak at jail

Local media in South Bend, IN, are reporting that almost two dozen inmates at a county jail are part of a Salmonella outbreak.

The 23 inmates at St. Joseph County Jail became ill on April 29 with symptoms including diarrhea, dehydration and fever. The jail’s medical staff determined that the illnesses were caused by Salmonella, according to ABC57 news.

County and state health departments are conducting an inspection and working to determine the source of the Salmonella. 

The sheriff reported that the jail kitchen was inspected by the Health Department on April 25, just five days before the outbreak began. The jail kitchen passed that inspection with no critical violations found. Jail kitchen staff made immediate corrections to two minor non-critical violations, involving standing water on the floor near a dish machine and mold found on wire racks in a walk-in cooler.

At this time most of the inmates have fully recovered, and a few continue to be treated for food poisoning symptoms. Jail staff will continue to work with the jail food service provider, the jail medical service provider, and the County and State Health Departments to determine a direct cause of the illness so that they can take all necessary corrective actions.

About Salmonella infections
Food contaminated with Salmonella bacteria does not usually look, smell, or taste spoiled. Anyone can become sick with a Salmonella infection. Infants, children, seniors, and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of serious illness because their immune systems are fragile.

Symptoms of Salmonella infection can include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food. Healthy adults are usually sick for four to seven days. In some cases, however, diarrhea may be so severe that patients require hospitalization.

Older adults, children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems, such as cancer patients, are more likely to develop a severe illness and serious, sometimes life-threatening conditions.

Some people get infected without getting sick or showing any symptoms. However, they may still spread the infections to others.