Iowa case tied to possible nationwide salmonella outbreak

An Iowa case is part of a nationwide investigation into a salmonella outbreak.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released information Friday about the outbreak, which involves 184 people in 38 states.

A contaminated food product might have caused the illnesses, according to the CDC, but a source had not been determined.

One of the most notable salmonella outbreaks was traced to peanut products last year.

Polly Carver-Kimm, spokeswoman for the Iowa Department of Public Health, said tests showed a Plymouth County woman in her 60s who became ill was connected to the outbreak.

The woman was not hospitalized and has since recovered, she said.

“That's the only case we know of (in Iowa) right now,” Carver-Kimm said.

Cases have been reported to the CDC since July.

The CDC is collaborating with public health officials in many states, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service and U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Investigators are using DNA analysis of salmonella bacteria to identify cases that might be part of the outbreak.

The salmonella Montevideo infections are a separate strain from the 11 cases of salmonella Newport reported in Eastern Iowa since last month.

Because Montevideo is a commonly occurring strain, public health investigators may determine that some of the illnesses are not part of the outbreak, the CDC said.

The most cases were reported in California, with 30.

Patients have been 1 to 88 years old, with 35 hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.

Symptoms include diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps within 12 to 72 hours after infection.

The illness usually lasts four to seven days and most people recover without treatment.