Multistate Outbreak of Human Salmonella Typhimurium Infections Linked to Ground Beef

Persons infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Typhimurium by date of illness onset*

*n=19 for whom information was reported as of January 3, 2012

Among persons for whom information is available, illnesses began on or after October 8, 2011. Ill persons range in age from 1 year to 79 years old, with a median age of 44 years old. Fifty-three percent are male. Among the 15 ill persons with available information, 7 (47%) have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.

The outbreak can be visually described with a chart showing the number of people who became ill each day or week. This chart is called an epi curve. The PFGE pattern associated with illness in this outbreak has been seen before in PulseNet, and in the past typically caused 0-3 cases per month. Illnesses that occurred after December 4, 2011, might not be reported yet due to the time it takes between when a person becomes ill and when the illness is reported. This takes an average of 2 to 3 weeks. Please see the Timeline for Reporting of Salmonella Cases for more details.