Salmonella outbreaks hit Iowa and nation: What you need to know about eggs, peppers, and pets

Iowa families should be on alert this summer as multiple salmonella outbreaks are spreading across the country, including cases tied to eggs, jalapeño peppers, backyard chickens, and even pet chameleons. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports hundreds of illnesses in dozens of states, with one death already confirmed. While Iowa has so far seen only a handful of cases linked to pet reptiles, the broader outbreaks pose risks to consumers who buy eggs or dine at restaurants serving Mexican-style food.

The CDC estimates salmonella causes about 1.35 million infections each year in the United States, leading to roughly 420 deaths. Food contamination is the most common source, but contact with animals also plays a role. Here is what Iowa residents need to know to stay safe.

What is causing the salmonella outbreaks this summer?

One major outbreak involves eggs produced in Texas by Midwest Poultry Services. The company has recalled more than 1.5 million dozen containers of shell eggs due to possible salmonella contamination. The eggs were sold under brand names including Simple Truth, Brookshire's, Country Morning, Kroger, and Cal-Maine, with 'sell by' or 'best used by' dates between July 20 and August 17. The FDA says the producer does not account for all illnesses, so investigators are searching for additional sources.

A separate outbreak is linked to jalapeño peppers grown in Sinaloa, Mexico, and distributed by Coast Citrus Distributors. These peppers were not sold directly to grocery stores but were sent to restaurants, wholesalers, and food service companies. Most sick people reported eating at Mexican-style restaurants like Chipotle or Qdoba between June 14 and July 14. Both companies say they have stopped using the products.

There are also eight multistate outbreaks tied to backyard chickens and ducks, plus a smaller outbreak involving children handling pet veiled chameleons.

Where are the outbreaks happening?

Eggs: 98 cases with 26 hospitalizations have been reported in 17 states. The eggs were sold at Kroger stores in Texas and Louisiana; Brookshire Grocery stores in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana; and smaller retailers in those states plus New Mexico and Mississippi.

Jalapeño peppers: As of August 5, the CDC reports 345 cases in 27 states, with 36 hospitalizations. The true number is likely much higher, the agency says.

Backyard poultry: 814 people in 44 states have gotten sick, including 201 hospitalizations and one death. A quarter of cases involve children under age 5. The only states not reporting outbreaks are South Carolina, New Mexico, Arizona, Delaware, Rhode Island, and Hawaii.

Chameleons: The outbreak involving veiled chameleons started in February and ended in June. All cases were among children under age 3. Two children got sick in Nebraska, and single cases were reported in Iowa, Oklahoma, and Texas. Two children were hospitalized.

How fast does salmonella set in?

Symptoms typically start six hours to six days after exposure to the bacteria through contaminated food, drink, or contact with animals or surfaces. Higher doses of bacteria can cause faster onset of illness. Salmonella on produce tends to be a lower dose than in prepared foods, which are often at higher risk of cross-contamination and improper storage.

What are the symptoms of salmonella?

Common symptoms include stomach cramps, fever, nausea or vomiting, and bloody diarrhea. Some people also experience painful, swollen joints, severe back pain, frequent urination with pain, night sweats, general discomfort, or chest pain. Symptoms usually last four to seven days.

What should I do if I catch salmonella?

Most people recover without treatment. However, severe cases can occur in people with underlying conditions, pregnant women, the elderly, small children, and those with weakened immune systems. Those with high fever or incapacitating bloody diarrhea may need hospital care.

Antibiotics are not typically recommended because they can prolong the carrier state, according to Dr. Elie Saade, an infectious disease specialist at University Hospitals in Cleveland. 'Patients may get better, but the salmonella stays in their belly or their body for a longer time, so they remain infectious for a longer time,' Saade said. For severe cases, adults may receive ciprofloxacin, azithromycin, or ceftriaxone, while children are treated with amoxicillin or trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.

Antidiarrheals like Imodium A-D can relieve cramping but may also prolong diarrhea. Many doctors recommend rest and drinking plenty of fluids.

How can doctors tell if I have salmonella versus cyclosporiasis?

Bloody diarrhea is more likely salmonella, while cyclospora infections tend to last longer and come and go. 'With salmonella, they usually get really sick, and then they get better. It's not on and off, and it's just a few days,' Saade said. Lab tests on stool samples can confirm the diagnosis, but cyclospora requires a specific molecular test not always included in routine cultures. Salmonella can spread between people, but cyclospora cannot.

How do you prevent salmonella?

Remember four words: clean, separate, cook, and chill.

• Clean: Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before and after handling food or pets like chickens, turtles, and reptiles. Clean counters, cutting boards, and utensils after touching raw meat or eggs. Wash vegetables like lettuce and jalapeños before use.
• Separate: Keep raw poultry, eggs, seafood, and meat away from ready-to-eat foods like fruits and vegetables.
• Cook: Cook poultry to 165°F and ground meats or egg dishes to 160°F. No runny or raw eggs. Use a food thermometer.
• Chill: Refrigerate eggs, meat, and leftovers within two hours. Keep your refrigerator at 40°F or colder.

If you get sick, do not cook for others. The CDC recommends children under age 5 avoid contact with chameleons. Keep backyard poultry and reptile habitats clean, and do not kiss or snuggle chameleons or chickens.

Why are there so many foodborne illnesses?

Salmonella cases have remained relatively stable over the past decade, according to USDA data. The bacteria naturally live in many animals without causing disease but can contaminate food or water through fecal matter. 'The unfortunate reality of so many of our foodborne disease outbreaks is fecal contamination of our food, and that can come from a lot of different sources,' said Dr. Haley Oliver-Jischke, an expert in food safety at Purdue University.

Warmer weather also plays a role. 'There's cyclospora season, the season no one ever has ever wanted. Go away, cyclospora season. But that's associated with temperature, so warmer weather,' Oliver-Jischke said. 'If the water's warmer, the organisms like salmonella can grow in the warmer water, so they can get to higher numbers.'

Iowa families should stay informed and take precautions to protect themselves from these preventable infections.