Salmonella outbreak linked to turkey kills one, sickens over 150
A salmonella outbreak linked to raw turkey has killed one person and sickened over 160 across multiple states, just ahead of Thanksgiving.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a Thursday statement that 164 people across 35 states have been infected with the outbreak strain Salmonella Reading as of Nov. 5.
A majority of the infections were reported in Minnesota, Illinois, California, New York and Texas. (For a full map of reported cases by state, click here.)
Of the 164 people sickened, 63 have been hospitalized and one patient in California has died. The CDC said it has not been able to identify a single, common supplier of raw turkey products or live turkeys linked to the bacteria, indicating that the outbreak might be widespread in the turkey industry.
Thankfully, the CDC does not advise that consumers avoid turkey products entirely this holiday season. The organization instead recommends consumers handle raw turkey carefully and ensure it is cooked thoroughly — to an internal temperature of 165 F — to avoid contamination.
Those preparing turkey should wash their hands, counters, cutting boards, and utensils with warm, soapy water after handling raw meat. Additionally, the CDC warns that frozen turkeys should always be thawed in a refrigerator, never left out on a counter.
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