Different parts of the United States have experienced outbreaks caused by bacteria and viruses in recent months. Some of these events have approached epidemic levels, while others have been comparatively small in scale. Four such outbreaks are detailed below.
Salmonella
Sixty-five people across five states contracted Salmonella Typhimurium infections linked to chicken salad sold at grocery stores from Jan. 4 to Feb. 9, according to an outbreak summary posted by the CDC Feb. 22.
The infections, which occurred between Jan. 8 and Feb. 10, resulted in 28 hospitalizations. No deaths were reported in the outbreak as of Feb. 22. The outbreak has affected 55 people in Iowa, four people in Illinois, three people in Nebraska, two people in Minnesota and one person in Texas.
Salmonella infections typically last four to seven days. Symptoms include abdominal cramps, fever and diarrhea. To learn more about Salmonella, click here.
Mumps
The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services identified 214 confirmed and 33 probable mumps cases related to an outbreak that began in Anchorage last summer, according to a state public health advisory issued Feb. 21.
In response to the outbreak, Alaska health officials altered state immunization guidelines to allow individuals who received a second dose of the measles, mumps, rubella vaccine more than five years ago to obtain a third dose to boost immunity.
The recent surge in mumps cases marks a 98.7 percent increase in Alaska since 2012.
To learn more about the mumps, click here.
Legionnaires'
Illinois health officials on Feb. 20 confirmed an additional case of Legionnaires' at the Illinois Veterans Home in Quincy, bringing the total number of cases reported since Feb. 12 to four.
The Illinois Department of Public Health said all infected residents were either doing well or in stable condition. The Illinois VA facility experienced three separate outbreaks of Legionnaires' disease between 2015 and 2017, causing 64 infections and 13 deaths.
Legionnaires' is a virulent form of pneumonia contracted through the inhalation of water carrying Legionella. Those with weakened immune systems like the elderly are at greater risk of infection. Last January, the CDC issued a report on the water system at the Quincy VA facility. In the report, researchers said Legionella may never be fully eradicated from the facility's water system and warned additional Legionnaires' cases could be inevitable.
Norovirus
The father of U.S. Olympic hockey player James Wisniewski was one of more than 280 individuals who contracted norovirus during an outbreak at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, according to a report from USA Today Sports.
Olympic officials confirmed 283 norovirus cases at the games as of Feb. 18. While a majority of those sickened were security and food service workers, two athletes also contracted the virus.
Symptoms of norovirus include abdominal pain, fever, vomiting and diarrhea. The illness can be transmitted through person-to-person contact or contact with contaminated surfaces and food. Norovirus causes 56,000 to 71,000 hospitalizations and 570 to 800 deaths in the U.S. every year, according to the CDC.
More articles on infection control:
Days after CEO resigns, feds release investigative report on infection problems at Sparrow Carson
Fierce flu season to buoy for-profit hospital operator results: 7 things to know
Ohio senator introduces bill to fight antibiotic resistance: 3 things to know