Knowing About Salmonella Infection and How to Avoid It

The Public Health Agency of Canada is now looking at a possible salmonella outbreak after it recalled some imported products from the market. Early this August, the PHA advised Canadians not to consume, sell, or serve any type of onion produced by Thomson International Inc. of Bakersfield, California, USA, or anything made out of these onions because of salmonella.  Then, before this month ends, another product is being recalled because of the presence of this bacterium – imported peaches.

On its August 21, 2020 updated Public Health Notice, the Canadian government announced that there are already 379 salmonella infection cases with the province of Alberta having the highest number of affected people. Apparently, a salmonella outbreak is now starting to sweep Canada.

Should you be worried? If you follow health protocols and arm yourself with the proper information, you can avoid being part of the statistics. Here are things that you need to know about salmonella infection and how you can avoid it:

In focus: Salmonella Infection

Salmonella is a type of bacteria that thrive in animal or human feces. Contamination occurs when the infected excrement comes into contact with crops, water, and animals. The bacteria then transfers to people who consume these uncooked or undercooked products. Handling tainted produce or meat without washing hands afterward also contributes to its spread. The disease caused by this bacteria is called salmonellosis or salmonella infection.

According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, everyone can be susceptible to contracting salmonellosis. However, some people are most at risk with this ailment, namely, the elderly, pregnant women, kids aged five years old and below, or those who are already immune-compromised.

Salmonella infection symptoms are usually related to the stomach. They typically manifest anytime between seven hours to eight days after consumption of contaminated goods.  Symptoms of this disease include:

·         Painful stomach cramps

·         Blood in the stool

·         Colds and chills

·         Diarrhea

·         Fever

·         Headache

·         Vomiting

·         General feeling of uneasiness of the stomach

Diagnosing salmonellosis

There are several salmonella strains in existence today, and getting diagnosed will help health experts and authorities trace the source of the bacteria if there is a confirmed community spread.

You can visit your family doctor so that he or she can run some blood tests and take a stool sample. If you do not have a family doctor, you can visit a local walk in clinic Edmonton center so a licensed health professional can diagnose and treat you accordingly.

Available treatment options

If you have not yet consulted a physician about your sickness, you can only manage its symptoms. Drinking a lot of clean water and fluids will help combat diarrhea. If you can, get your hands on oral rehydration solutions or over-the-counter drugs like loperamide. If you are running with fever, take anti-fever medications.

If you are down with a severe case of salmonellosis, you will need anti-bacterial medicines to treat your sickness. Consult your doctor for this course of treatment.

How to avoid it

As the adage goes, prevention is better than cure. Salmonella is an enemy you cannot see, but it does not mean you cannot avoid it. Health experts advise the following precautionary measures to prevent contracting salmonella infection:

1. Practice good hygiene. Remember to wash your hands with soap and warm water. This habit can prevent bacteria from transferring from your hands to your mouth. Keep your hands clean after doing the following:

·         Using the restroom

·         Handling raw produce or meat

·         Touching high-risk pets like birds or reptiles

·         Cleaning up your pet’s pee and poop

·         Changing your child’s diaper

2. Prevent cross-contamination in food. Keeping your pantry products separate will keep the infected produce from contaminating clean ones. As a general rule in food storage, never place raw products in the same area as cooked ones. Separate raw poultry, meat, and seafood from other food in your fridge. If you can, purchase different chopping boards for raw products, vegetables, fruits, and bread.

3. Avoid consuming uncooked or undercooked food. Do not eat raw eggs or uncooked cookie dough, which has raw eggs in it. When eating food like sushi, make sure you are dining at a restaurant with a reputation for cleanliness and high-quality service. Never consume raw chicken. Wash your fruits and vegetables properly or peel them before consumption.

4. Practice good hygiene when dealing with pets, too. Regularly clean your pet’s cage, aquarium, or any place of habitation. Do it outdoors to avoid contaminating indoor areas with bacteria from excrement. If you have no choice but to clean indoors, make sure you disinfect the cleaning area after use.

Despite the spread of salmonella in some parts of Canada, you can do your part by protecting yourself and your family from infection. Learn about this disease and how you can effectively avoid it. Watch out for public health announcements from the government, too. Let us help each other combat this outbreak.