The CDC estimates that Salmonella causes one million foodborne illnesses in the U.S. annually, leading to 19,000 hospitalizations and 380 deaths. The organization’s 2016 Salmonella outbreak investigations included dairy bull farmers, egg companies, alfalfa sprout growers and even pistachio producers. Now there is new hope for the public who cannot avoid the potential for encountering it in home or commercial settings: Researchers at the University of Texas have developed an oral vaccine to prevent Salmonella infections.
There is currently no vaccine available for salmonella poisoning, which causes more hospitalizations and deaths than Norovirus each year. CDC guidelines to prevent outbreaks focus on handwashing, proper food handling, and cross-contamination threats. Once infected, patients most often suffer diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps as the bacteria attacks the intestinal tract. Typically the infections are treated successfully with antibiotics. More at-risk patients – young, elderly, or those suffering from other health issues – can see these symptoms turn to life-threatening complications from dehydration or spread beyond the intestinal tract. The threat of severe Salmonella illness is higher is regions with poor sanitation, where both prevention and containment resources are limited.
The development of a vaccine against this prolific pathogen is highly promising to the world’s infection control community. Although the researchers don’t expect the vaccine to be available to the public until 2022, it’s a significant advance in the effort to combat the number one cause of foodborne illness in the United States today.
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