Salmonella Poisoning

Salmonella, a bacteria that causes food poisoning, is one of the most common illnesses in the United States. This is a picture of the Salmonella organisms.

There are over 2.300 serotypes of bacteria in the Salmonella family--they are "one-celled organisms too small to be seen without a microscope. The types that ate the most common in the United States are Salmonella Enteritidis and Salmonella Typhimurium. This video clip demonstrates the salmonella bacteria entering the intestinal tract.

The sources of Salmonella are eggs, poulty, unpasteurized milk or juice, cheese, contaminated raw fruits and vegetables, spices, and nuts.

Th incubation period for Salmonella is 12-72 hours. The duration of the illness itself is 4-7 days. Symptoms include diarrhea, fever, abdominal cramps, and vomiting.