Reminder to Fully Cook Ground Beef after Salmonella Kills One and Hospitalizes Eight Others
According to a statement by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday, November 1, there have been 10 reported cases of Salmonella Dublin poisoning linked to ground beef across six states between August 8 and September 22. Victims range in age between 48 and 74 and 80 percent are male. While Salmonella Dublin infections are common among cattle, it does rarely infect people and cause infections in the bloodstream. One person has died, one was sickened and eight others have been hospitalized, giving this outbreak a hospitalization rate of 89 percent. According to Medscape.com, the normal rate of hospitalization for Salmonella poisoning is 20 percent, making this outbreak an outlier.
No recall has been issued at this time because no single, common supplier has been identified: the victims were sickened by beef sold under different brands bought at different locations. The CDC is not recommending that consumers return ground beef but is reminding the public not to consume raw or under cooked ground beef. In addition, consumers should store and handle ground beef according to food safety guidelines and cook it to an internal temperature of 160°F to kill any germs that might have been present. Use a food thermometer in a couple of spots to ensure meat has reached a safe temperature.
Symptoms of Salmonella poisoning
Symptoms of Salmonella poisoning include:
- Fever within 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal cramps
A healthy adult is usually sick for four to seven days. The CDC warns that infants, children, seniors and anyone with a weakened immune system is at greatest risk for a serious illness, sometime life-threatening.
It is possible for someone to be infected with the bacteria but to not get sick or show any symptoms, unknowingly spreading the infection to others.
Contaminated food personal injury case
The federal government estimates that there are about 48 million cases of foodborne illnesses in the United States every year. When a person is seriously injured by contaminated food because of the negligence of another, they may be able to recover damages with the help of a personal injury lawyer.
In order to recover damages, the plaintiff and his or her personal injury attorney must show that injuries were caused by the contaminated food by providing medical records and calling expert witnesses, that the injuries caused damages such as pain and suffering, lost wages and medical bills and that the defendant is legally liable for the accident because of their negligence.
A personal injury attorney is best equipped to determine who the defendant is along the supply chain, gather evidence and build a case. They will also be able to assess the value of your claim and fight for the settlement you deserve.
If you have lost a loved one or been injured through no fault of your own, you have enough on your plate. Let an experienced accident attorney fight for the justice and fair compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is five to ten times larger with the help of a lawyer. Call the caring, tireless and experienced personal injury attorneys at Tario & Associates, P.S. in Bellingham, WA today for a FREE consultation! We have been representing residents of Whatcom County, Skagit County and surrounding areas since 1979. You will pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!
