29.05.2014

An outbreak of antibiotic-resistant salmonella Heidelberg  linked to a California chicken company continues even after more than a year. There have been 50 new illnesses in the past two months. Since March 2013, 574 people have been sickened. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says there are about eight new reported salmonella illnesses linked to the outbreak a week - most of them in California. The CDC said 37 percent of victims were hospitalized, and that the outbreak is resistant to many antibiotics. In addition, the CDC said that 13 percent of the victims had developed blood infections, almost three times the normal rate. Victims came from 27 states and Puerto Rico. The Agriculture Department is monitoring Foster Farms facilities and says measured rates of salmonella in the company's products have been going down since the outbreak began. The department threatened to shut down the facilities last year but let Foster Farms stay open after the company had made immediate changes to reduce salmonella rates.