Salmonella Outbreaks
Salmonella are a large group of bacteria consisting of more than 2,500 serotypes. About 2,000 of these can cause human illness, which is why several million Americans develop salmonellosis every year. While only 40,000 salmonellosis cases are reported annually, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that these cases represent about 3 percent of total salmonella infections. Most salmonellosis victims recover without a specific treatment; however, about 600 people die every year due to salmonellosis complications.
Salmonellosis Symptoms and Treatment
In the vast majority of cases, salmonella victims contract the bacteria by eating contaminated foods, such as infected meat, poultry, raw juice and various vegetables. The symptoms typically begin within one to three days after contracting salmonella bacteria and include diarrhea, stomach pain, vomiting, nausea and fever. Most of the affected individuals recover within a week without a specific treatment. In some cases, however, diarrhea and vomiting can cause severe dehydration that might require intravenous rehydration therapy. Additionally, in about 10 to 15 percent of salmonellosis infections, victims develop Reiter's syndrome – a serious condition characterized by arthritis, eye irritation and painful urination. Reiter's syndrome requires extensive treatment and might leave victims with permanent joint damage.
Salmonellosis Outbreaks
Due to large-scale commercial manufacturing and distribution of various food items, salmonellosis outbreaks can sicken hundreds of victims in a short period of time. Some of the largest recent salmonellosis outbreaks occurred in 2009 when salmonella-tainted peanut products distributed by the Peanut Corporation of America sickened more than 500 people nationwide. In the same year, salmonella-infected pistachios produced by the Setton Pistachio Company caused salmonellosis symptoms in more than 50 individuals, and contaminated sprouts distributed by Caudill Sprouts sickened more than 200 Americans. In 2008, a large salmonellosis outbreak occurred when Malt-O-Meal cereals became contaminated, leading to a salmonellosis epidemic spanning 13 states.
Salmonella Food Poisoning Legal Recourse
In salmonella food poisoning cases whereby the illness was caused by a contaminated food product, the company that produced and/or distributed the tainted food item might be held liable for the damages incurred by the consumers as a result. In order to obtain compensation, salmonellosis victims usually have to file a personal injury lawsuit and demonstrate that the responsible company acted negligently by providing them with a dangerous product, as a result of which they developed salmonellosis and incurred financial, physical and/or psychological damages.
In some cases, salmonellosis personal injury lawsuits have been settled for a sizeable sum. For example, in 2000 Sun Orchard paid $1.4 million in damages to victims who developed salmonellosis after drinking the company's orange juice. In 2004, a multi-million dollar settlement was reached in a personal injury lawsuit filed against Coronet Foods of West Virginia by victims who developed salmonellosis after eating contaminated Coronet Foods tomatoes.
Contacting an Experienced Salmonellosis Lawyer
If you or your loved one has developed salmonellosis as a result of consuming a salmonella-tainted food product, you might be entitled to compensation. Contact the law offices of Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz at (888) 255-2956 to thoroughly discuss your case and initiate prompt legal action. In addition to helping salmonellosis victims obtain justice, the attorneys of AWKO Law are highly experienced in handling food poisoning cases arising from E. coli, listeria, botulism and campylobacter outbreaks.
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Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz
803 North Palafox St.
Pensacola, Florida 32501
55 Baybridge Dr.
Gulf Breeze, Florida 32561
