Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHow It’s SpreadIs It Contagious?SymptomsPrevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
How It’s Spread
Is It Contagious?
Symptoms
Prevention
Salmonellacauses about 1.3 million infections in the United States each year. It leads to an illness called salmonellosis and is one of the most common types of food poisoning.
This illness can cause fever and vomiting, as well as serious inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. Some strains cause infection in the bones, blood, urine, joints, and the nervous system. It can also cause severe disease. Salmonella tends to be diagnosed more often in the summer than in the winter months.
Biserka Stojanovic / Getty Images
How Salmonella Is Spread
Salmonellais a bacterium that can live in and cause infections in the intestines of animals and humans.
If a human has contact with food, water, animals, or objects that have been contaminated with bacteria from human or animal feces, they can contract and spread salmonella.
Consuming raw or undercooked food is another way salmonella is spread. When food is cooked at the recommended safe temperature, salmonella will be destroyed. If a person eats certain foods that are undercooked, however, they may be at risk. These foods include:
Other factors include:
What Happens If You Accidentally Eat Raw or Undercooked Chicken?
How Long You’re Contagious
When an individual eats foodcontaminated with salmonella, the length of illness and time that they are contagious depends on the individual. For some, it is days or weeks, while others can be long-term asymptomatic carriers. However, nontyphoidal salmonella is rarely spread from person to person.
Salmonella infections are contagious, and they can be dangerous if a person who has the infection is asymptomatic and spreads it unknowingly.
Can Salmonella Live on Surfaces?Salmonella can live on surfaces that are not cleaned properly. In fact, the bacteria are known to live on surfaces for up to four hours.
Can Salmonella Live on Surfaces?
Salmonella can live on surfaces that are not cleaned properly. In fact, the bacteria are known to live on surfaces for up to four hours.
How to Know If You’re Sick
Salmonella typically makes a person sick for four to seven days.
People can start feeling symptoms from six hours to six days after contamination. There are more severe cases that can last longer and will needtreatmentin the hospital.
Some of the symptoms of salmonella are:
Diarrhea WarningIf diarrhea lasts long and is severe, it is important to get additional treatment as salmonella can spread into the bloodstream and to the organs. If this happens, hospitalization may be needed for treatment.
Diarrhea Warning
If diarrhea lasts long and is severe, it is important to get additional treatment as salmonella can spread into the bloodstream and to the organs. If this happens, hospitalization may be needed for treatment.
Individuals most at risk for severe salmonella are the following:
How Salmonella Is Treated
How to Prevent Salmonella
There are several ways that you can prevent salmonella.
If you are handling or preparing food, it is important to thoroughly wash your hands with soap and warm water before and afterward. It is also important to clean the countertops, cooking utensils, and cutting boards with soap and water or a disinfectant before and after use. This prevents cross-contamination, the unintentional passing of the bacteria to other surfaces.
If you are preparing vegetables, wash them thoroughly and cut them on a clean surface with a clean knife. When cooking meat, fish, or poultry, cook it thoroughly—at least until the minimum internal temperature is reached—to avoid spreading any bacteria.
Some tips on food safety as it relates to salmonella include the following:
Safe Meat TemperaturesWhen cooking meats, it is important they reach the recommended temperatures for safety. The suggested minimum internal temperatures for the following meats are:145 F for roasts, steaks, ham, and chops145 F for fish160 F for ground meats165 F for all poultry, including ground
Safe Meat Temperatures
When cooking meats, it is important they reach the recommended temperatures for safety. The suggested minimum internal temperatures for the following meats are:145 F for roasts, steaks, ham, and chops145 F for fish160 F for ground meats165 F for all poultry, including ground
When cooking meats, it is important they reach the recommended temperatures for safety. The suggested minimum internal temperatures for the following meats are:
Another safety precaution is to be careful when touching or playing with animals. If you handle chicks or chickens, ducks, rodents, farm animals, frogs and toads, or reptiles that frequently carry salmonella, including turtles, iguanas, and snakes, wash your hands and clothes thoroughly and keep them away from your mouth.
It is important to take all precautions to avoid getting salmonella poisoning. If you experience any symptoms, contact your healthcare provider immediately so they can provide you with the help you need or answer your questions.
3 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Salmonella.Cleveland Clinic.Salmonella.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Get the facts about salmonella.
3 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Salmonella.Cleveland Clinic.Salmonella.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Get the facts about salmonella.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Salmonella.Cleveland Clinic.Salmonella.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Get the facts about salmonella.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Salmonella.
Cleveland Clinic.Salmonella.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Get the facts about salmonella.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
