Salmonella Sickens Ninth Tennessean

The state Department of Health reports that a ninth Tennessean has been sickened by the salmonella outbreak linked to tainted tomatoes.

Officials said July 16 that a resident of Anderson County became ill but has since recovered.

The federal Food and Drug Administration is testing other types of fresh produce in the hunt for the source of the nation’s record salmonella outbreak, though tomatoes remain the leading suspect.

No tomatoes grown in Tennessee have been linked with the salmonella outbreak, which has affected more than 1,100 people in more than 40 states.

Salmonella sickens about 1.4 million people a year. Health officials say most people recover without treatment in four to seven days although the illness can be fatal in young children, the elderly or people with weakened immune systems.

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On the Net:

Food and Drug Administration,
http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/tomatoes.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/saintpaul/

Tennessee Department of Health, http://health.state.tn.us/