05/23/25 Public Health Education Topic: Salmonella
- Health Department
- 7 hours ago
- 1 min read
Per CDC:
Key points
Salmonella are bacteria (germs) that can make people sick
People can get infected with Salmonella after swallowing the bacteria.
CDC estimates Salmonella cause about 1.35 million infections in the United States every year.
Contaminated food is the source for most of these illnesses.
Overview
Salmonella are bacteria (germs) that can make people sick with an illness called salmonellosis.
People can get infected after swallowing Salmonella.
Salmonella lives in the intestines of people and animals. People can get infected with Salmonella in many ways, including
Eating contaminated food
Drinking or having contact with contaminated water
Touching animals, animal poop, and the places animals live and roam.
Salmonella are a leading cause of foodborne illness, hospitalizations, and deaths in the United States and worldwide.
Symptoms
Most people with Salmonella infection have
Watery diarrhea that might have blood or mucus1
Stomach cramps that can be severe
Some people also have
Headache
Nausea
Vomiting
Loss of appetite (not feeling hungry)
Symptoms usually start 6 hours to 6 days after infection and usually last 4 to 7 days.
To learn more visit: About Salmonella Infection | Salmonella Infection | CDC
