Salmonella outbreak includes 3 local cases

A nationwide salmonella outbreak includes three cases from Clark County, according to the Washington State Department of Health.

Only one of Washington’s 15 cases was hospitalized, the health department said Thursday. All have recovered.

A national study of the cases implicated salami as a potential source in the outbreak that made more than 180 people sick nationwide.

Other Washington cases are from King (3), Snohomish (4), Jefferson (1), Lewis (1), Thurston (1), Pierce (1) and Whatcom (1) counties. Health investigators verified that 13 of the sickened individuals bought the same salami variety pack before getting sick.

Health laboratories have found salmonella matching the outbreak strain in salami produced by Daniele International (http://www.danielefoods.com/daniele-recall-statement-20100127.pdf).

Salmonellosis (http://www.doh.wa.gov/EHSPHL/factsheet/salmonel.htm) is a common bacterial infection that comes from more than 2,000 strains of salmonella.

Most people recover from salmonellosis on their own, without treatment or medication, officials said.