What is Salmonella Typhimurium, and how dangerous is it?
The genus Salmonella is subdivided into 50 serogroups (A, B, C1, C2, D, E, etc), which are further subdivided into over 2500 serotypes. Of these serotypes, Salmonella Typhimurium is the most common and accounts for approximately 20% of all salmonella infections in the United States every year. Salmonella bacteria live in the intestinal tracts of many animals, and the bacteria is often found in these animals’ feces. Salmonella is transmitted to humans who unknowingly consume food contaminated with the feces. Typical food contamination occurs when rats, mice, birds, or other animals infiltrate food production plants (like PCA’s Georgia and Texas plants) and leave their droppings on raw or finished product which eventually finds its way to consumers’ tables. Persons who consume the bacteria typically experience severe vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and abdomen pain. They usually recover in about a week. Children and the elderly are the most susceptible to a more severe infection, which can le
