GA Press: CDC: Cats Can Cause Salmonella Poisoning

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Posted by Desiree on August 23, 2001 at 18:07:39:

Thursday August 23 5:24 PM ET
CDC: Cats Can Cause Salmonella Poisoning
By Emma Hitt, PhD

ATLANTA (Reuters Health) - Cats and other animals can shed Salmonella in their feces, which can spread the bacterial infection to humans, according to researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (news - web sites) (CDC).

Most of the estimated 1.4 million cases of Salmonella infection in the US are transmitted through food, but the disease can also be spread by exposure to contaminated water, reptiles, farm animals and pets, the CDC report notes.

In the August 24th issue of the agency's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, CDC researchers describe three outbreaks of infection with multidrug-resistant Salmonella typhimurium linked to facilities housing animals. The outbreaks resulted in several cases of week-long diarrhea, and in some instances, hospitalization.

The first outbreak, in a small veterinary clinic in Idaho, afflicted 10 of the 20 people working in the clinic. The victims suffered abdominal cramps and diarrhea for about 7 days. Two reported bloody diarrhea, and four were hospitalized.

According to researchers, the outbreak originated with a person who reported caring for several kittens that may have had Salmonella infection. All 10 infected employees ate together at the facility but reported no contact outside the clinic, the report indicates.

The second outbreak was reported by the Minnesota Department of Health, which found similar strains of Salmonella when it tested samples from nine cats and seven humans. The cats had died from the infection in an animal shelter.

Four of the seven infected humans had purchased cats from the shelter, and two attended the same day care center as an ill child whose family had purchased a cat from the shelter.

During the third outbreak, in Washington state, 14 cats that had contact with an animal clinic became infected, and one employee and two customers of the animal clinic became ill.

``It is unknown how the human patients in these outbreaks became infected with Salmonella,'' CDC researchers write. They speculate that people may inadvertently have eaten food contaminated with animal feces because of ``suboptimal sanitation and hygienic practices'' in the facilities.

``The best thing pet owners can do to minimize the risk of infection is to wash their hands after handling their pets and before eating, especially when handling pet feces,'' the CDC's Dr. Jennifer Gordon Wright told Reuters Health. ``People should always wash their hands after handling a reptile,'' she added.

But Wright pointed out that the risk of infection to people visiting their veterinarian is minimal. ``None of the pet owners were infected while in the clinic with their pets,'' she said. Wright suggests that they could have decreased their risk of infection by washing their hands.

``The immunosuppressed are the main population at risk,'' Wright said. While people with weakened immune systems may still own pets, she added, they should avoid animals less than 6 months of age, as well as animals with diarrhea.

``Parents of children who are under 5 years old should not own reptiles and should supervise their children's hand washing before eating,'' Wright said.

``Pet owners in general should be certain to keep their pets healthy, visit their veterinarian if the pet develops diarrhea, and wash their hands after touching fecal material and before eating,'' she concluded.

SOURCE: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 2001;50:701-704.

CDC: Cats Can Cause Salmonella Poisoning

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better ban cats now ........ :) ...... nm iZ's mom 08/23/01 (1)
- so can geese n/p phantoms 08/23/01 (0)

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: Thursday August 23 5:24 PM ET : CDC: Cats Can Cause Salmonella Poisoning : By Emma Hitt, PhD : ATLANTA (Reuters Health) - Cats and other animals can shed Salmonella in their feces, which can spread the bacterial infection to humans, according to researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (news - web sites) (CDC). : Most of the estimated 1.4 million cases of Salmonella infection in the US are transmitted through food, but the disease can also be spread by exposure to contaminated water, reptiles, farm animals and pets, the CDC report notes. : In the August 24th issue of the agency's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, CDC researchers describe three outbreaks of infection with multidrug-resistant Salmonella typhimurium linked to facilities housing animals. The outbreaks resulted in several cases of week-long diarrhea, and in some instances, hospitalization. : The first outbreak, in a small veterinary clinic in Idaho, afflicted 10 of the 20 people working in the clinic. The victims suffered abdominal cramps and diarrhea for about 7 days. Two reported bloody diarrhea, and four were hospitalized. : According to researchers, the outbreak originated with a person who reported caring for several kittens that may have had Salmonella infection. All 10 infected employees ate together at the facility but reported no contact outside the clinic, the report indicates. : The second outbreak was reported by the Minnesota Department of Health, which found similar strains of Salmonella when it tested samples from nine cats and seven humans. The cats had died from the infection in an animal shelter. : Four of the seven infected humans had purchased cats from the shelter, and two attended the same day care center as an ill child whose family had purchased a cat from the shelter. : During the third outbreak, in Washington state, 14 cats that had contact with an animal clinic became infected, and one employee and two customers of the animal clinic became ill. : ``It is unknown how the human patients in these outbreaks became infected with Salmonella,'' CDC researchers write. They speculate that people may inadvertently have eaten food contaminated with animal feces because of ``suboptimal sanitation and hygienic practices'' in the facilities. : ``The best thing pet owners can do to minimize the risk of infection is to wash their hands after handling their pets and before eating, especially when handling pet feces,'' the CDC's Dr. Jennifer Gordon Wright told Reuters Health. ``People should always wash their hands after handling a reptile,'' she added. : But Wright pointed out that the risk of infection to people visiting their veterinarian is minimal. ``None of the pet owners were infected while in the clinic with their pets,'' she said. Wright suggests that they could have decreased their risk of infection by washing their hands. : ``The immunosuppressed are the main population at risk,'' Wright said. While people with weakened immune systems may still own pets, she added, they should avoid animals less than 6 months of age, as well as animals with diarrhea. : ``Parents of children who are under 5 years old should not own reptiles and should supervise their children's hand washing before eating,'' Wright said. : ``Pet owners in general should be certain to keep their pets healthy, visit their veterinarian if the pet develops diarrhea, and wash their hands after touching fecal material and before eating,'' she concluded. : SOURCE: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 2001;50:701-704.

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