Updated: May 21, 2026
What Is Salmonellosis?
This condition gets its name from the group of bacteria (Salmonella) that can cause diarrheal illness in humans. South Carolina reports an average of 1,500 salmonellosis cases annually, with infections being more common in the summer than winter. Additionally, because many milder cases are not diagnosed or reported, the actual number of infections is thought to be much higher. The CDC estimates that Salmonella causes about 1.35 million infections in the United States every year.
What are the symptoms?
People with salmonellosis usually develop loose stools, fever, and abdominal cramps about 12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most people recover without treatment. However, in some people, the diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized. In these patients, the Salmonella infection may spread from the intestines to the blood stream. It can then spread to other body sites and cause death unless the person is treated promptly with antibiotics. The elderly, infants, and those with impaired immune systems are more likely to have severe illness associated with salmonellosis.
How is Salmonella treated?
Salmonella infections usually do not need treatment and resolve themselves in 4 to 7 days. Antibiotics are only necessary when the infection spreads outside of the gastrointestinal tract. Unfortunately, certain strains of Salmonella have become resistant to antibiotics, which can make treatment more challenging.
How do people catch this disease?
- Contaminated food: Salmonella is primarily transmitted to people through contaminated food. According to the CDC, the majority of Salmonella infections are associated with chicken, fruits, pork, seeded vegetables (like tomatoes), other produce (such as nuts), beef, and turkey. However, any food, including processed items like flour, can become contaminated. Additionally, egg-associated salmonellosis is an important public health problem in the United States. Salmonella enteritidis can be inside perfectly normal-appearing eggs, and if the eggs are eaten raw or undercooked, a person may become ill.
- Cross-contamination: This can occur when foods contaminated with Salmonella transfer germs to other foods if they are not kept separated.
- Contact with people: Food may also become contaminated by an infected food handler who did not wash his or her hands with soap after using the bathroom.
- Contaminated water: Salmonella can contaminate drinking water, irrigation water (used for growing food), and recreational water. People can become infected by drinking untreated water, such as from streams, ponds, or lakes, while swimming or camping. Additionally, if water contaminated with Salmonella is used for irrigating or washing produce, it can contaminate fruits and vegetables either before or after harvesting.
- Contact with animals: Pets and other seemingly healthy animals can carry Salmonella and other harmful germs. These germs can spread through the animal's feces, belongings (such as toys and bowls), or habitats (like beds, cages, tanks, coops, stalls, and barns). Reptiles are particularly likely to harbor Salmonella, and people should always wash their hands immediately after handling a reptile, even if the reptile is healthy.
What can be done to stop the spread of this disease?
- Wash your hands with soap and warm water before and after handling food, after using the restroom or changing a baby's diaper, and after touching animals.
- Since foods of animal origin may be contaminated with Salmonella, people should not eat raw or undercooked eggs, poultry, or meat. Raw eggs may be unrecognized in some foods such as homemade hollandaise sauce, Caesar and other salad dressings, tiramisu, homemade ice cream, homemade mayonnaise, cookie dough, and frostings.
- Poultry and meat, including hamburgers, should be well-cooked, not pink in the middle.
- Persons also should not consume raw/unpasteurized milk or other dairy products.
- Fruits and vegetables should be washed before consuming.
- People who have salmonellosis should not prepare food or pour water for others until they have been shown to no longer be carrying the Salmonella bacterium.
- In certain parts of the world, food and water safety standards may not be as high as in the United States. When traveling internationally, remember to: "Boil it, cook it, peel it, or forget it!"
- Avoid swallowing water while swimming in pools, lakes, or other bodies of water.
- Exercise caution around animals.