Almost 80 percent of the 117 people sickened in a deadly Salmonella outbreak linked to whole and cut cantaloupe are over 65 years old or under the age of 5. With immune systems that are either slowing down or still developing, these age groups are at increased risk of contracting food poisoning and becoming gravely ill from it, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Compounding that risk further is that one of the two Salmonella strains associated with this outbreak, Salmnonella Sundsvall, is a particularly virulent strain. Just two of the illnesses reported so far are linked to the other strain Salmonella Oranienburg. The 52 percent hospitalization rate – more than twice the average, and the report of two fatalities are evidence of the danger this outbreak poses.
Do You Need a Salmonella Lawyer?
Risks for Adults 65 and Over
About half of people 65 and over who have a lab-confirmed case of foodborne illness require hospitalization, according to the CDC. Generally, Salmonella is fatal in about 1 percent of cases, but that percentage increases to 3.6 percent for cases that occur in hospital or long-term care settings which this outbreak includes. Fifty percent of the people sickened in this outbreak are 65 and over.
Risks for Children Ages 5 and Under
Children 5 and under are three times more likely than the general population to be hospitalized with a Salmonella infection, according to the CDC. Twenty-nine percent of the patients in this outbreak are children in this age group. And cases include kids at childcare centers.
Experienced Salmonella Lawyers
If you developed a Salmonella infection after eating recalled cantaloupe and would like a free consultation with an experienced Salmonella lawyer, please contact us. The Pritzker Hageman Salmonella Legal Team has represented clients in every major Salmonella outbreak in the U.S. You can reach us by calling 1-888-377-8900, sending a text to 612-261-0856, or by completing the form below. There is no obligation and we don’t get paid unless we win.