Salmonella outbreaks hit
20 in Michigan

LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Twenty people in Michigan are among those reportedly sickened in a nationwide salmonella outbreak.

The Department of Community Health said Wednesday that seven Michigan patients required hospitalization

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating the outbreak that reportedly has sickened nearly 400 people in 42 states. They do not yet know exactly how the bacteria has been spreading over the past few months.

Most people infected with salmonella develop diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness usually lasts four to seven days. Most people recover without
treatment.

Steps to guard against the illness include careful handling and preparation of raw meat and frequent hand washing.

The Michigan Department of Community Health said 20 cases in the state have been identified in 14 areas: Arenac, Bay, Eaton, Kent, Lapeer, Macomb, Mecosta, Muskegon, Oakland, Ottawa, Tuscola, Washtenaw, and Wayne Counties, and the City of Detroit.

Those people range in age from 1-73, but the median age is 9. Of these cases, 60% are male, and the onset happened between October 11 - December 5. Seven people were hospitalized.