Salmonella infection is a bacterial disease that can cause
severe gastroenteritis or intestinal infection. Symptoms usually
start 12-72 hours after eating food that has been contaminated.
Fever, severe diarrhea, vomiting and dehydration can occur. Most
people recover from this illness without needing to be
hospitalized. Some more vulnerable people, such as young
children or the elderly, can become more ill. They may need
intravenous hydration and antibiotics. The illness usually lasts
4-7 days. The infection starts in hens, which pass the bacteria
to their eggs. The shell and appearance of the eggs look no
different from uninfected eggs. The bacteria can be killed by
cooking the eggs properly. The eggs should be kept in
refrigerators at less than 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Once cooked,
eggs should not be left out for more than an hour. There are
other ways for a person to become infected with salmonella.
Undercooked meat, seafood, even fruits and vegetables that were
washed with contaminated water can cause this