March 8 (UPI) — An outbreak of salmonella cases in seven states linked to chicken salad has expanded to include 170 people, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday.
An additional 105 people from a total of six states fell ill after likely purchasing and consuming contaminated chicken salad before it was recalled.
A total of 62 people between the ages of 7 and 89 have been hospitalized and no deaths have been reported.
The CDC said illnesses that occurred after Feb. 12, may not be reported as public health agencies receive reports on salmonella illnesses two to four weeks after illness starts.
Fareway Stores Inc. retailers sold the chicken salad at stores in Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, Nebraska and South Dakota from Jan. 4 to Feb. 9. The store chain pulled the chicken salad from its stores on Feb. 9.
Triple T Specialty Meats, Inc., which produces the chicken salad, recalled 20,600 pounds of the product on Feb. 21.
The CDC recommends people throw away or return any chicken salad to the store, even if some was eaten or served and no one got sick.
It also suggests washing and sanitizing countertops, drawers or shelves in refrigerators or freezers where recalled chicken salad was stored.
Most people infected with salmonella experience symptoms such as diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after being exposed to the bacteria and the illness lasts about seven days.
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