Over 1.5 million campylobacter infection cases are reported in the United States every year, making it one of the most common causes of intestinal infection and diarrhea worldwide. While typically only a small number of people are infected with Campylobacter infection at a time, it can also occur as an outbreak, infecting hundreds and thousands of people at once.

A foodborne illness outbreak is when two or more people experience a similar illness after ingesting a common meal or food. According to a report by the CDC, every 1 in 6 Americans is a victim of a foodborne illness annually, accounting for 3000 deaths and 128,000 hospitalizations. You can easily get food poisoning by consuming food with pathogens due to unsafe handling practices, contaminants that stay on food during the production process or as a result of being stored in dirty warehouses. Read on to learn about the worst foodborne illness outbreaks in the history of the United States.

Salmonella Outbreak

Salmonella is a bacteria that kills the cells in your intestinal walls, causing severe food poisoning. The symptoms of Salmonella (abdominal cramp, fever, and diarrhea) appear within 12 hours to 3 days after eating the contaminated food and automatically disappear within 4 to 7 days. Treatment for Salmonella includes electrolytes, antibiotics, fluids, and medications.

Still considered a rare infection by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Listeria is the third most common cause of food poisoning fatalities in the United States. According to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1600 people are infected by Listeria annually, out of which 260 die, making up 1 in 6 Americans. Listeria Monocytogenes is a germ that contaminates food and causes a serious infection in people of all ages, especially older adults, pregnant women, newborns, and people with weak immune systems. The foodborne illness can last from days to weeks, and the symptoms can vary from mild to severe, depending on the severity of the infection. Keep reading to learn more about Listeria Monocytogenes food poisoning.

What Is the Listeria Infection?

Listeriosis is a foodborne illness caused by the germ Listeria Monocytogenes, usually found in groundwater, soil, animal feces, and rotting vegetation. People get Listeria from eating contaminated food like hotdogs, deli meals, fresh vegetables, soft cheeses, cantaloupes, fresh fruits, and unpasteurized dairy products. L. monocytogenes is a rare form of bacteria that can reproduce even in low temperatures. Not only this, but the strangest part is that the food contaminated with the bacteria doesn't develop a strange taste, smell, or changes texture, making it impossible to know if the food or beverage is safe to consume or not.

Salmonellosis is a common foodborne illness caused by a group of bacteria called Salmonella. You get the infection by eating contaminated food products such as unpasteurized dairy, eggs, beef, and dirty vegetables and fruits or by handling pets, particularly reptiles and birds. Salmonella destroys the cells lining your intestine, making it difficult for your body to absorb water. This can cause typhoid-like fever, stomach pains, and diarrhea. Keep reading to learn about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of Salmonellosis.

How Can a Person Contract Salmonellosis?

Did you know that the Salmonella bacteria live in the guts of almost every human and animal? However, transmitting the bacteria in higher quantities can cause Salmonella poisoning, leading to diarrhea and other gastrointestinal issues. A person can get Salmonellosis by eating, touching, or drinking:

First identified in 1977, Legionnaires' disease was a result of the pneumonia outbreak in a US convention center in 1976. Caused by bacteria called Legionella, Legionellosis is a severe form of pneumonia. Most patients of Legionnaires' disease become sick by inhaling the bacteria from soil or water bodies like showers, swimming pools, and hot tubs. Legionella bacteria can also cause Pontiac fever which has flu-like symptoms and can be easily treated. However, if left untreated, Legionnaires' disease can be life-threatening, especially for people with a weak immune system. According to studies, one in ten people with Legionellosis is expected to die.

In this article, we will discuss the causes, symptoms, and treatment for Legionnaires' disease. Keep reading to protect yourself and your loved ones from the rarest form of pneumonia.