Can you catch salmonella from someone else? What the science says

Salmonella is a highly contagious bacteria that can be transmitted from person to person, primarily via the fecal-oral route. You can catch it from an infected person or animal, by consuming contaminated food or water, or by touching a contaminated surface and then your mouth.

How contagious is salmonella?

Salmonella is an enteric bacteria, that is to say which resides in the digestive tract. Salmonella is extremely contagious. Studies have shown that just 10 bacteria per milliliter of fluid can cause an infection. The infection itself is called salmonellosis.

Salmonella is one of the most important causes of foodborne illnesses worldwide. In the United States, an estimated 1.35 million infections occur each year, resulting in approximately 26,500 hospitalizations and 420 deaths.

Salmonella is mainly transmitted by the fecal-oral route. This usually happens when you ingest small amounts of fecal matter (stool), most commonly through contaminated food. The infection can be spread from person to person and even from an infected animal to humans.

How to get salmonella?

Salmonella is generally transmitted (passed) by the following routes:

• Contaminated food: This includes eating raw or undercooked meat, poultry, or seafood that has been contaminated during processing. The same thing can happen from eating fruits or vegetables washed with contaminated water, or from consuming eggs or dairy products from infected animals.
• Person-to-person contact: This can occur through contact with feces or vomit from an infected person. It can also be transmitted during anal-oral sex (“rimming”). Less frequently, Salmonella can be transmitted through saliva during kissing.
• Contaminated surfaces: You can get Salmonella by touching surfaces contaminated with feces, then touching your mouth. These include surfaces in bathrooms and kitchens, as well as frequently handled items like cell phones, toys and door handles.
• Contaminated water: You also become infected by drinking or swimming in contaminated rivers, lakes, or wells, especially those near livestock farms.
• Contact with animals: This may occur when handling infected pets or livestock (especially chickens) or when cleaning animal cages, pens, or litter boxes.

There are more than 2,500 serotypes (types) of Salmonellabut fewer than 100 are responsible for the vast majority of infections. Salmonella enteritidis And Salmonella typhimurium are the two most common serotypes in the United States, accounting for half of all infections.

Who is most at risk of infection?

Anyone can get Salmonella, but certain factors can increase the risk, including:

• Children under 5 years old
• Adults 50 and older with underlying health conditions
• Adults aged 65 and over
• Anyone with a weakened immune system
• People traveling outside the United States

How long are you contagious?

Salmonella is most contagious when an infected person has diarrhea or vomiting. Even after the symptoms disappear, Salmonella can persist in the stool for several weeks or months, meaning transmission is still possible.

Salmonella can also be transmitted by someone without symptoms. Studies suggest that at least one in three infections is asymptomatic, highlighting the need for good hygiene in households where salmonellosis is known or suspected.

What are the symptoms of salmonella?

Salmonellosis is characterized by diarrhea. Symptoms usually begin 6 hours to 6 days after infection and usually last 4 to 7 days.

Common symptoms of salmonellosis include:

• Watery, sometimes explosive diarrhea
• Stomach cramps, often severe
• Mucus or blood in stools

Other possible symptoms include:

• Headache
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea
• Vomiting

How to prevent salmonella poisoning

To avoid contracting or spreading Salmonellait is important to:

• Wash your hands thoroughly after using the toilet, after touching or caring for animals, changing diapers, and before and after handling food.
• Keep food surfaces clean and disinfected.
• Cook food at the correct temperature.
• Avoid raw milk and opt for pasteurized milk instead.
• Store perishable foods at 40 F or lower in the refrigerator, or 0 F or lower in the freezer.
• Check official water quality reports before swimming in lakes, rivers or streams. Avoid drinking untreated water.
• Use a barrier during anal-oral sex.