Large Outbreak of Salmonella from Contaminated Eggs - Essay Example

            2010 outbreak of salmonella was the largest of its type clamming for approximately 1939 illnesses, as per the reports of the Center for disease control and Prevention. The incidence of salmonella enteritidis which comes under the category of nontyphoidal salmonellosis is highest during warmer months. This typical pattern was noted with the 2010 outbreak. Public health laboratories reported an increase in the number of cases since May 2010 which attained a peak in July and returned to baseline in November 2010.

            The outbreak was due to contaminated shelled eggs. During investigations two farms, the main egg suppliers were involved in the origin and the spread of infection. Infection of the ovaries of hens results in contamination of egg content before shell deposition. Egg-laying hens catch an infection from breeding flocks, rodents, and manure contact.  All these factors which make hens susceptible to infection were noticed by FDA investigators at both the farms, Wright Country Eggs and Hillandale Farm of Iowa. Egg samples collected from both companies showed similar strains of salmonella as that identified from the patient’s sample.

            There was a nationwide voluntary recall of eggs that were marketed under different brands by both the companies in August 2010. This was the largest recall in the history of the United States recalling more than 500 million eggs. Both the egg companies were asked by FDA to correct the conditions responsible for egg contamination. FDA announced new regulations to make eggs safer and to prevent future outbreaks of salmonella.