C.D.C.: Salmonella infection rates on the rise

One million people sickened by food-borne pathogen each year

ATLANTA — Salmonella infections have not decreased during the past 15 years and have instead increased by 10%, according to "Vital Signs," a report issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

During the same period, the report noted, illnesses caused by pathogens such as E. coli O157 have declined nearly 50% and the overall rates of six food-borne infections have been reduced
by 23%.

"Although food-borne infections have decreased by nearly one-fourth in the past 15 years, more than 1 million people in this country become ill from Salmonella each year, and Salmonella accounts for about half of the hospitalizations and deaths among the nine food-borne illnesses C.D.C. tracks through FoodNet," said Thomas R. Frieden, director of the C.D.C.

"Salmonella costs hundreds of millions of dollars in direct medical costs each year. Continued investments are essential to detect, investigate, and stop outbreaks promptly in order to protect our food supply.