Salmonella
Salmonella is a bacterial infection that causes diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps. It's one of the most common foodborne illnesses, with about 1.35 million infections annually in the U.S., primarily from contaminated food.
What is Salmonella?
Salmonella bacteria live in the intestines of animals and humans. Most infections result from eating contaminated food (poultry, eggs, produce, peanut butter). While most people recover without treatment in 4-7 days, it can be life-threatening for young children, elderly, and immunocompromised individuals. About 26,500 hospitalizations and 420 deaths occur annually in the U.S.
Symptoms
- Diarrhea (may be bloody)
- Fever and chills
- Abdominal cramps
- Nausea and vomiting
- Headache
- Symptoms last 4-7 days
- Severe cases: Dehydration, bacteremia (blood infection)
Transmission
Eating contaminated food (especially poultry, eggs, produce); contact with infected animals (reptiles, birds, backyard poultry); person-to-person (poor hygiene); contaminated water
Contagious Period: Several days to several weeks after infection; some become chronic carriers
Prevention
- Cook poultry to 165°F, ground meat to 160°F
- Avoid raw or undercooked eggs and meat
- Wash hands thoroughly after handling raw meat, pets, or using bathroom
- Prevent cross-contamination (separate cutting boards for raw meat)
- Refrigerate food within 2 hours (1 hour if temp >90°F)
- Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly
- Don't prepare food when ill with diarrhea
- Avoid unpasteurized milk and juice
- Wash hands after handling reptiles, birds, or backyard poultry
Active Outbreaks & Recent Cases
Real-time intelligence from global health monitoring and AI-powered surveillance
Data sources: BEACON, ProMED, WHO, CDC, and 50+ national health agencies
No Active Outbreaks Detected
Our AI-powered surveillance hasn't detected significant Salmonella activity in the past 30 days.
Real-time monitoring continues 24/7 across BEACON, ProMED, WHO, CDC, and 50+ global health agencies
What This Means
Currently, Salmonella case counts are within baseline expectations globally. However, diseases can emerge rapidly, which is why continuous monitoring is critical.
Stay Prepared
Download the Virus Watcher app to get instant alerts if Salmonella activity increases in your region or travel destinations.
Prevention Remains Important
Even without active outbreaks, understanding Salmonella prevention helps protect you and your community:
- Cook poultry to 165°F, ground meat to 160°F
- Avoid raw or undercooked eggs and meat
- Wash hands thoroughly after handling raw meat, pets, or using bathroom
- Prevent cross-contamination (separate cutting boards for raw meat)
- Refrigerate food within 2 hours (1 hour if temp >90°F)
- Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly
- Don't prepare food when ill with diarrhea
- Avoid unpasteurized milk and juice
- Wash hands after handling reptiles, birds, or backyard poultry
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Expert Resources & References
Trusted information from leading health organizations
WHO
Global disease surveillance and guidelines from the World Health Organization
View WHO Resources →Medically Reviewed Content
Disease information on Virus Watcher is reviewed by our Chief Epidemiologist, a former CDC lead analyst for FluSight forecasting. Outbreak data is aggregated from verified sources including BEACON, ProMED, WHO, CDC, and 50+ national health agencies. This information is for educational purposes and should not replace professional medical advice.
Last reviewed: 2026-03-05
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Salmonella answered by our epidemiology team
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