A Montana school district has suspended the use of all fresh produce and fruit in response to a Salmonella outbreak.
The Great Falls Public Schools district is replacing fresh produce and fruits with dried and canned alternatives across all schools.
The outbreak among students in the Great Falls Public Schools district has sickened 10 students and staff at four elementary schools. Another person with no connections to any school has tested positive for the outbreak strain. Other patients are awaiting test results before being added to the official count.
The Cascade City-County Health Department in Great Falls is investigating the outbreak with the help of Montana public health officials.
The first patient was reported on Oct. 30. According to a news release from the health department, the most recent person to become ill had symptoms onset on Nov. 12.
“The CCHD has been in contact with all confirmed individuals and is working with Great Falls Public Schools nursing staff and leadership to notify families, limit the spread, and identify potential sources of contamination,” according to the health department’s statement.
The outbreak’s source has not yet been confirmed, but officials are interviewing patients and their families about what foods they have consumed recently in hopes of finding a common exposure.
The Montana Department of Public Health & Human Services is also investigating connections to Salmonella cases in other Montana counties and states.
About Salmonella infections
Food contaminated with Salmonella bacteria does not usually look, smell, or taste spoiled. However, anyone can become sick with a Salmonella infection. According to the CDC, infants, children, seniors, and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of serious illness because their immune systems are fragile.
Anyone, especially students and staff at the affected schools, who has developed symptoms of Salmonella infection should seek medical attention. Sick people should tell their doctors about the possible exposure to Salmonella bacteria because special tests are necessary to diagnose salmonellosis. Salmonella infection symptoms can mimic other illnesses, frequently leading to misdiagnosis.
Symptoms of Salmonella infection can include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food. Otherwise, healthy adults are usually sick for four to seven days. In some cases, however, diarrhea may be so severe that patients require hospitalization.
Older adults, children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems, such as cancer patients, are more likely to develop a severe illness and serious, sometimes life-threatening conditions.
Some people become infected without showing any symptoms. However, they may still spread the infection to others.
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