Salmonellosis

Salmonellosis is a foodborne illness caused by the bacteria Salmonella. It is usually transmitted to humans by eating foods contaminated with small amounts of animal feces (poop). People can also become infected if they do not wash their hands after contact with animals or animal feces. Symptoms of infection usually appear 6–48 hours after eating contaminated food, but can take much longer. In most cases, illness lasts 4–7 days. While most people can recover without treatment, recovery may take several months and may have other adverse effects, including pain in the eyes and joints and painful urination. In some persons, diarrhea may be so severe that the patient may require hospitalization. The elderly, infants, and those with pre-existing conditions are most at risk.