RECORD numbers of people are being struck down with salmonella poisoning, the Sun can reveal.
New data shows 1,468 were hospitalised with the potentially deadly condition last year.
Salmonella can cause nasty symptoms like diarrhoea, fever and vomitingGetty – Contributor
That’s the highest number ever recorded by NHS officials – and is nearly double the level seen a decade ago.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) recently said it was investigating a recent rise in cases of salmonella food poisoning linked to poultry from Poland.
“A number of the cases have involved the consumption of eggs produced in Poland and used in meals in restaurants and cafes,” Tina Potter, head of incidents at the FSA said in September.
More than 200 human cases of salmonellosis linked to poultry products such as eggs and meat were reported last year.
Salmonella is a common type of bacteria found in raw meat, undercooked poultry, eggs and unpasteurised milk that can cause food poisoning.
The bug can cause stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhoea and can be spread from person to person, leading to severe fever and dehydration in some cases.
Although rarely fatal it can kill those with weakened immune systems – and is also very dangerous for elderly patients.
Details of the scale of the surge in cases has emerged in figures newly released by NHS Digital.
They show hospitals in England and Wales recorded 841 cases in 2015-2016. It rose to 1,279 between 2018-19 and to 1,425 between 2019-20.
Admissions fell during Covid to 545 between 2020-21 and 791 the year later.
But they rose last year to 1,468 – the highest number ever seen.
In September, Morrisons urgently recalled its own-brand chorizo after it was found to be contaminated with salmonella.
How to avoid salmonella
HUMANS usually become infected with salmonella through contaminated water or food.
It is commonly found in:
Raw meat
Undercooked poultry, like chicken or turkey
Eggs
Unpasteurised milk
But the bug can also spread by fruit, vegetables and shellfish when they come into contact with infected animal and human faeces, as well as pets.
Thankfully, you can avoid most forms of food poisoning by following the four ‘C’s of food hygiene:
Chilling
Cleaning
Cooking
Avoiding cross-contamination
It’s also important not to drink untreated water from lakes, rivers or streams.
You should also always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water before preparing or eating food, after handling raw foods, after going to the toilet, after changing a baby’s nappy, after touching bins, and after contact with animals.
Source: Food Standards Agency
What are the signs of the bug you need to look out for?
Salomella is a nasty stomach bug, usually caused by food.
Once it enters the body, it will start causing symptoms in as little as eight hours – but not everyone gets sick.
“It can lead to diarrhoea (which may be bloody), painful tummy cramps, and feeling/being sick.
“It can also cause a fever and people with salmonella feel generally unwell,” Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and Clinical Consultant to patient.info told the Sun.
“It isn’t usually deadly but it can lead to widespread infection in the body, including meningitis,” she added.
Those most likely to get it are those prone to deydration, which includes babies, toddlers, older people and people with underlying health conditions like heart, kidney or lung disease.